Parents ask Chancellor to Make Child Benefit Count

*PHOTOCALL AT 11AM, 17.11.06, ON PARLIAMENT SQUARE*

Child Poverty Action Group’s Chief Executive, Kate Green, will today be joined by parents and children from TAMBA, the Twins and Multiple Births Association, in Westminster to take their call to MAKE CHILD BENEFIT COUNT to the Chancellor.

The campaign, supported by a coalition of around 50 organisations as well as more than 3,300 individuals, calls for an increase to child benefit to ensure that younger children get the same rate as the oldest child. Currently £17.45 is received for the oldest child, compared to just £11.40 for younger children.

The event is part of the Campaign to End Child Poverty’s Month of Action.

Kate Green said:

“Child benefit has a much better take up rate than tax credits, reaching more children in poverty without causing overpayments or uncertainty over entitlement. But younger children lose out on the full level of support. That is why thousands of parents have joined us today in calling for the Chancellor to increase child benefit and ensure that younger children get the same rate as the oldest child.

“Giving younger children the same amount of child benefit as the oldest child in a family would lift 250,000 children out of poverty. With the Government set to miss their target of halving child poverty by 2010 this would help get them back on track.”

Helen Forbes, Director of the Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA) said:

“For families with twins and triplets or more, increasing the rate of child benefit for younger children is extremely important. Each child in a multiple birth costs as much to feed, clothe and care for and you can’t pass down clothes, toys and equipment for children born minutes apart.”

Colette Marshall, UK Director of Save the Children, said:

"Making child benefit equal for all children would make a huge difference to the poorest families who are trying to manage on very stretched budgets. Save the Children supports this call as part of the wider investment needed to eradicate child poverty in the UK once and for all".

Notes to Editors

1. A document is available upon request with samples of supporters’ messages to the Chancellor, which may be used in reports.
2. An open photocall with 6 twin and triplet families will take place at 11am, 17.11.06, on Parliament Square.
3. Campaign cards and supporters’ messages to the Chancellor will be delivered to 11 Downing St at 11.30am, 17.11.06. Photographers and journalists must posses the relevant press pass to be admitted, but our own photographer will also be present and we can distribute images.
4. Over 3,300 people have so far registered support through postcards and web messages sent to the Chancellor.
5. Family allowances were first paid to mothers with two or more children on 6 August 1946 following the passing of the 1945 Family Allowances Act. Child benefit was introduced from 1977 to replace family allowances and child tax allowances. Visit www.cpag.org.uk/makechildbenefitcount for more information.
6. 7.3 million families receive child benefit for 12.9 million children. Paying the same rate of child benefit for all children would benefit 4 million families with 2 or more children.
7. The campaign is being supported by a growing number of organisations including: Child Poverty Action Group, End Child Poverty, TAMBA, TUC, Save the Children, Citizens Advice, Family Welfare Association, One Parent Families, National Family & Parenting Institute, One Parent Families Scotland, National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations, Children in Wales, National Union of Students, Barnardo’s, Communication Workers Union, YWCA England & Wales, 4 Children, Daycare Trust, UK Coalition Against Poverty, ATD Fourth World, Ethnic Minority Foundation, Poverty Alliance, Labour Students, The National Youth Agency, National Children’s Bureau, NCH, Contact a Family and National Deaf Children’s Society.
8. An Early Day Motion was tabled on 16.11.06 by Michael Foster MP and Paul Rowen MP in support of the aims of the campaign. The EDM states: “That this House recognises the improved support for all families, reduction in child poverty and progress towards the Government’s commitment to end child poverty by 2020 that would be achieved by increases to Child Benefit; notes that Child Benefit is currently £17.45 per week for a first child, but just £11.40 per week for subsequent children; further notes that equalising Child Benefit for all children at the current first child rate would lift at least 250,000 children out of poverty at a cost of £1.7 billion; and urges the Government to consider raising child benefit and increasing the rate paid for second and subsequent children to that received for the first eligible child as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2007.”

More briefing information can be found at www.cpag.org.uk/makechildbenefitcount

For further information please contact:

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