Improved support key to tackling poverty and social exclusion

Responding to John Hutton’s keynote speech on tackling child poverty and social exclusion at the end of the ‘social exclusion week’, Kate Green, Chief Executive of CPAG commented:

“CPAG welcomes John Hutton's commitment to supporting parents and families. Like the Secretary of State, CPAG also believes that the state should support children and that policies which seek to influence family structure have failed in the past and risk punishing vulnerable children.

“Gearing policies like child support and the plans to reform incapacity benefit to place children first are the key to supporting families and tackling child poverty. The test for CPAG is whether these policies help to support parents by providing financial security for children, irrespective of whether their parents are able to work or not.”

For further information please contact:
Paul Dornan
Tel. 020 7812 5201 or 07816 909302
lhunterrowe@cpag.org.uk

Notes:
1. A recording of John Hutton MP’s speech is available for download at http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200609/10e2b4ad-e7bb-4d6b-8a1e-7576412ff2c1.htm

2. CPAG is part of a coalition arguing for Child Benefit to be increased and equalised for all children, see the campaign website at www.makechildbenefitcount.org