Livingstone acts on deprived children

The London mayor has launched a commission to tackle child poverty as research showed the risks of falling into poverty in the capital are far higher than average.

More than half of children in inner London and a third in outer London live in poverty once housing costs are taken into account, the figures for Ken Livingstone show.

This compares with 28 per cent of children nationwide.

The research also highlights that employment rates for disabled people, particularly mothers, are far lower than those for people without disabilities.

The London Child Poverty Commission, which also has the support of the Association of London Government, is charged with increasing understanding of the causes of the capital’s high child poverty rates and identifying  policies to tackle the problem.

It has also been asked to show how London’s public services can tackle deprivation.