Work 'critical component' in dealing with poverty - Duncan Smith

Latest figures show the number of children living in relative poverty remains at 2.3 million.

The government says it is the lowest number since the 1980s, but Labour say the statistics are "depressing".

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said government reforms of the welfare system were focused on "making work pay" and getting people into employment.

He said: "If you deal with the root causes of poverty, at which work is a critical component, many of the symptoms then start to sort themselves out."