Children’s charity welcomes MPs’ report on Budget

Commenting on the Treasury Select Committee’s report on The Budget 2008, Child Poverty Action Group’s Head of Policy, Paul Dornan, said:

“The Budget was an important step towards keeping the Government’s promise to halve child poverty by 2010. It is now clear the 2010 target can be met. But as the Committee points out, keeping the 2010 promise still rests on the Government clarifying that the resources needed will be deployed directly to the poorest families.

“Finding the extra resources is crucial as expert evidence heard by the Committee made clear that just increasing parental employment will not meet the 2010 target. The Treasury must also be very aware of the threat posed to poor families’ incomes by new sanctions in the Government’s welfare reform programme. A more joined up approach prioritising the wellbeing of children is needed.

“Alongside other members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty we are asking the Government to invest a further £3 billion annually before 2010 to ensure the target is met.”

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