Treasury membership of Child Poverty Unit must herald new investment

Commenting on the Government’s response to the Work and Pensions Committee’s report The Best Start in Life? Alleviating deprivation, improving social mobility and eradicating child poverty, the Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“It is great news that the Treasury are joining the Child Poverty Unit. A further £3 billion annual investment is needed to ensure the 2010 target to halve child poverty is met, so it is vital the Treasury is at the heart of the Government’s strategy.

“There is important recognition that better support for families unable to work will be needed to meet the 2020 target. However, the Government does not yet have the answers and it is wrong to suggest that keeping benefit levels in line with growing average wealth will be any less affordable in the future than it is today.

“Flexibility in Job Seekers Allowance is vital for the lone parents who will be required to claim it from later this year. But the draft regulations need a great deal of improvement if they are to meet the promises made by the Government on protection of children from sanctions and consideration of childcare needs.

“There is far too much Government complacency about access to education for the poorest families. It is not good enough to assume problems don’t exist without properly researching anecdotal evidence of exclusion and stigmatising practice in many schools for the poorest pupils.”

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