Leading charity responds to Government announcement on tax credits
27.05.05

Following a statement made in Parliament yesterday by the Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo on the future of tax credits, Kate Green OBE, the Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group said,

'We welcome the Paymaster General’s comments and the recognition of the problems that many families have experienced with the tax credit system.

'The Child Poverty Action Group is encouraged that for millions of families, tax credits are making a real difference. Additional resources delivered through tax credits have had the very positive effect of reducing child poverty, and improving the living standards of many poorer children.

'But far too many families have experienced hardship, resulting directly from administrative problems. These problems were most acute at the implementation of the scheme, but many persist – it is welcome that the Paymaster General is looking to find ways of preventing more problems occurring.

'The Paymaster General’s plans are a step forward but we would encourage the Government to do more to help those families who are currently experiencing problems with the system through no fault of their own', she said.

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.