Reaching Out: Progress Report
The Cabinet Office Social Exclusion Taskforce report shows that the
Government's continued commitment towards better public services and
successful economic policies, such as the minimum wage and through the tax
and benefit system, has enabled people to prosper, increase their quality
of life and secure better outcomes for the most disadvantaged groups and
their children. It is precisely because such progress has been made that
the minority who have not benefited and who are caught in a cycle of
disadvantage stand out more starkly.
The Government can now focus on social exclusion in a much more specific
and targeted way. The Government has a responsibility to provide targeted
help and support to the most vulnerable families and children facing the
most complex problems and barriers. Equally, those to whom such support is
offered have a responsibility to take provision up and stick with it.
Hilary Armstrong, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the
Cabinet Office said:
‘It is very important we highlight our good record on reducing poverty
and narrowing inequality in the light of recent debate. Since 1997
absolute poverty has halved, and the poorest 20% have seen their incomes
rise disproportionately higher than the top 20%. This is a great
achievement, and we are now in a better position than any government in
the past to reach out to the very most excluded who have not benifited
from the wider opportunities. That's why we can now take the next
steps to tackle this most entrenched exclusion of a minority through
personalisation of services, and early intensive intervention and
support.’
