RESPONSE TO THE PRE-BUDGET REPORT

Putting parents and children first the 'right thing to do' says leading charity
2.12.04

Speaking after the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report delivered today, the Child Poverty Action Group's Chief Executive Kate Green said:

Childcare

'The increase in and extension of the childcare element in working tax credit is welcome, and will help low-earner families to meet more of their childcare costs. More must be done to increase takeup of this tax credit, and administration simplified and improved. Campaigners have long called for more help for low-income families to afford the cost of childcare, and this is a good step forward.

'We are pleased that the government has recognised that the private sector cannot on its own provide sufficient good quality childcare. A greater emphasis on supply of childcare and more Sure Start centres is a very welcome step to reaching the poorest communities with quality childcare.'

Work force

'We welcome the recognition of the importance of developing the skills of the population, and the focus on raising skills levels further. Trapping parents in poor quality, poorly paid jobs does nothing to meet the child poverty target, and the announcements today must be made to deliver so that work genuinely offers a route out of poverty for more families.'

Support not threats

'Support not threats and coercion is the right way to help those long-term sick and disabled people for whom a return to work is the right choice. We are pleased that the Pathways to Work pilots which offer support to Incapacity Benefit claimants are being extended to cover more areas of the country, and their continuing success will rely on their offering good quality support without increasing the conditions attached.'

Maternity Leave

'The extension of paid maternity leave from 6 to 9 months will be good for mothers and for their children. The right to unpaid leave has been a right on paper only for low-earning families and we urge the government to bring forward plans to achieve the goal the chancellor set today of 12 months' paid maternity leave at the earliest opportunity.'

For further comment:
Ashley Riley
Press Officer
Tel 020 7812 5216
Mobile 07811 324339
ariley@cpag.org.uk

CPAG's Chief Executive Kate Green is available on request for interviews.

The Child Poverty Action Group will make further detailed comment in the coming weeks as further details are announced by government departments.