Part 1U.K.[F1Strategies: Northern Ireland]

Targets relating to child povertyU.K.

F21The 2010 targetU.K.

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F22Duty of Secretary of State to ensure that targets in sections 3 to 6 are metU.K.

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F23The relative low income targetU.K.

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F24The combined low income and material deprivation targetU.K.

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F25The absolute low income targetU.K.

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F26The persistent poverty targetU.K.

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F27Interpretation of terms used in relation to targetsU.K.

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Social Mobility and Child Poverty CommissionU.K.

F28Social Mobility and Child Poverty CommissionU.K.

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F28AAdviceU.K.

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F28BAnnual reportsU.K.

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F28COther functionsU.K.

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Strategies: duties of Secretary of StateU.K.

F29UK strategiesU.K.

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F210ConsultationU.K.

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Strategies: duties of F3... relevant Northern Ireland departmentU.K.

F211Scottish strategiesS

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12Northern Ireland strategiesN.I.

(1)The relevant Northern Ireland department must, before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed, publish and lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly the first Northern Ireland strategy.

(2)A “Northern Ireland strategy” is a strategy under this section setting out the measures that the Northern Ireland departments propose to take—

F4(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)for the purpose of ensuring as far as possible that children in Northern Ireland do not experience socio-economic disadvantage.

(3)Before the end of the period to which a Northern Ireland strategy relates, the relevant Northern Ireland department must review the strategy and publish and lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly a revised Northern Ireland strategy, but this subsection does not apply [F5after 31 March 2020].

(4)A Northern Ireland strategy must—

(a)where it relates to a period ending [F6before 1 April 2021]—

F7(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(ii)describe the F8... progress that the Northern Ireland departments intend to make by the end of the period to which the strategy relates in achieving the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(b), and

(b)describe the progress that the Northern Ireland departments intend to make [F9by 31 March 2021] in achieving the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(b), F10....

(5)A Northern Ireland strategy other than the first must also—

(a)describe the measures taken by the Northern Ireland departments in accordance with the previous Northern Ireland strategy,

F11(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)describe [F12the] effects of those measures that contribute to the achievement of the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(b).

(6)A Northern Ireland strategy may not include proposals that relate to excepted or reserved matters, within the meaning of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(7)The relevant Northern Ireland department must, on or before each report date relating to a Northern Ireland strategy, lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly a report which—

(a)describes the measures taken by the Northern Ireland departments in accordance with the Northern Ireland strategy,

F13(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)describes [F14the] effects of those measures that contribute to the achievement of the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(b).

(8)The report dates relating to a Northern Ireland strategy are each anniversary of the day on which it was laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly, other than an anniversary which falls—

(a)on or after the date on which a subsequent Northern Ireland strategy is so laid, or

(b)[F15after 31 March 2021].

(9)References in this section to the period to which a Northern Ireland strategy relates are references to the period beginning with the date on which the Northern Ireland strategy is laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly and—

(a)except in the case of a Northern Ireland strategy laid before the Assembly less than 3 years [F16before 1 April 2020], ending 3 years later, and

(b)in that excepted case, [F17ending with 31 March 2021].

13 [F18 Consultation: F19 ... Northern Ireland ] U.K.

F20(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F20(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)In preparing F21... a Northern Ireland strategy, the [F22relevant Northern Ireland department]—

F23(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)must consult the Secretary of State,

(c)must consult such children, and organisations working with or representing children, as the [F22relevant Northern Ireland department] thinks fit,

(d)must consult such parents, and organisations working with or representing parents, as the [F22relevant Northern Ireland department] thinks fit, and

(e)may consult such other persons as the [F22relevant Northern Ireland department] thinks fit.

F24(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reports by Secretary of StateU.K.

F2614[F25Statement] by Secretary of StateU.K.

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F2715Statement required in relation to target yearU.K.

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Economic and fiscal circumstancesU.K.

16Economic and fiscal circumstancesU.K.

F28(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F28(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F29(3)In preparing a Northern Ireland strategy, the relevant Northern Ireland department must have regard to—

(a)the resources that are or may be available to the Northern Ireland departments, and

(b)the effect of the implementation of the strategy on those resources.]

Continuing effect of targets after target yearU.K.

F3017Continuing effect of targets after target yearU.K.

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SupplementaryU.K.

18Interpretation of Part 1U.K.

[F31(1)In this Part—

• “child” means—

  (a)

  a person under the age of 16, or

  (b)

  a person who is a qualifying young person for the purposes of Part 9 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (child benefit);

• “parent” means—

  (a)

  any individual who has parental responsibility for a child, or

  (b)

  any other individual with whom a child resides and who has care of the child.]

[F32(1A)In paragraph (a) of the definition of “parent” in subsection (1), the reference to “parental responsibility” is to be read in accordance with the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.]

F33(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F33(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .