CPAG welcomes new money for child benefit, but much more needed to meet 2010 child poverty target

Commenting on today’s Pre-Budget Report, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“The extension of child benefit to 8 weeks before birth will be a tremendous boost to parents preparing for the birth of their child. It will help the poorest children get a better start in life as their parents will be better resourced to provide the care they need from the day they are born.

“Our Make Child Benefit count call, backed by thousands of supporters, to increase child benefit for younger children to the rate received for the older child would lift 250,000 out of poverty. So today’s announcement is a small step down a long road.

“As a member of the End Child Poverty campaign, we have been calling on the Government to find the extra £4 billion that is needed if the Government is to get back on track for its target of halving child poverty by 2010. The Chancellor must do much more in next year’s Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review, or the Government will fail to meet this important target.”

On investment in education, she said:

“We welcome the promised investment in education. Schools must spend this money to increase inclusion of the poorest pupils so they can fully benefit from their education.”

On fuel poverty, she said:

“The increased investment in the Warm Front programme is good news. Brining energy efficiency to vulnerable families is vital for the Government’s aim of ending fuel poverty. But with the number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty doubling since 2004, immediate help is desperately needed for families who will not be able to afford to heat their home this winter.”

On cuts to the key departments providing services to families in poverty, she said:

“The Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs have been failing claimants of benefits and tax credits, partly because frontline staff are under-resourced, lack training and have rock bottom morale, leading to high staff turnover. Despite this their funding will be cut by 5%. Now we learn that the Department for Constitutional Affairs, which funds essential advocacy services for the poorest families, will face significant cuts too. Frontline services must be protected from these cuts, or the most vulnerable people will continue to suffer hardship from problems like tax credit overpayments and delays of weeks and months for essential benefits.”

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