CPAG calls for a tax credit amnesty
22.06.05

Responding to the Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo's statement to the House of Commons, Kate Green OBE, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, restated the urgent need for an amnesty of tax credit overpayments.

'The Paymaster General needs to go further and act faster.

'CPAG welcomes the extra money that tax credits have brought and the efforts the Government has made in tackling child poverty, but the administrative problems over the recovery of tax credits are causing lower income families serious problems through no fault of their own.

'CPAG demands an amnesty on the recovery of these overpayments so that government can start with a clean slate to restore public confidence in the system and so that no family is plunged into hardship.'

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

Notes:

CPAG have published a manifesto 'Ten steps to a society free from child poverty' which calls on all political parties to sign up to 10 demands.

• Download a copy of CPAG's manifesto (205 KB pdf file)
  
  
• Download a leaflet summary of CPAG's manifesto (471 KB pdf file)

CPAG’s ten steps to a society free of child poverty are:

• All political parties to commit to eradicate child poverty.
• Poverty proof policies – make each consistent with eradicating child poverty.
• Uprate the combined value of child tax credit and child benefit at least in line with the fastest growing of prices or earnings. The element of this that is child benefit ought to be maximised.
• Increase the adult payments within income support in line with those for children.
• Reform the administration of tax credits and benefits – ensure they get the right amount to the right people at the right time.
• Ensure all children have full access to the requirements – meals, uniforms and activities – of their education.
• Provide benefit entitlements to all UK residents equally, irrespective of immigration status.
• Work towards better jobs, not just more jobs.
• Introduce free at the point of delivery, good quality universal childcare.
• Reduce the disproportionate burden of taxation on poorer families.