No financial incentive for families to separate

Commenting on new research published today by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Essex, the Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“A drop in the financial impact of separation on children is to be welcomed, but they still face a higher risk of poverty. Further targeted support for children in lone parent families will be needed for the Government to meet its child poverty targets.

“Recent speculation about financial incentives for couples to separate was based on modelling, not studies of real people. This proves that when you look at real families rather than tables of numbers there is no financial incentive to separate.”

Notes for editors

• CPAG is one of over 100 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
tnichols@cpag.org.uk