Duncan Smith: We need to be 'brave' in tackling poverty

The fact is that many vulnerable individuals and families come into regular contact with government agencies throughout their lives.

They will be meeting with health visitors, social workers, school officials and even jobcentre staff. It's at these critical points that we must be more joined up, more brave and offer help to people to turn their lives around.

There is a lot of money being spent on families but it is dysfunctional money that goes to solve only short-term problems. We can't keep allowing endemic problems to be passed on to the next generation."