To ask the Minister for Communities what cross-departmental working he has undertaken with the Department of Education in relation to a new child poverty strategy.

The Executive previously approved the extension of the 2016/19 Child Poverty Strategy to May 2022. Subject to Executive agreement, future action to tackle child poverty will be included as part of the broader Anti-Poverty Strategy.

To date, my officials have engaged with officials from all departments, including the Department of Education, on the development of a future Anti-poverty Strategy and they will continue to do so as this work moves forward.

While my Department is leading on the Anti-Poverty Strategy, it remains an Executive Strategy. I will engage with all my Executive colleagues, including the Minister of Education, to establish priorities and commitments their departments can make in respect of an Anti-Poverty Strategy. My focus will continue to be on working with my Executive colleagues to develop a sustainable, deliverable Anti-Poverty Strategy which prioritises the issues that make a tangible difference to people’s lives, including those of our children and young people.

Final decisions on the content and implementation of the Anti-Poverty Strategy will be subject to Executive agreement.