CPAG questions whether Cameron’s plans will help poorest families

A leading children’s charity has questioned whether proposals to introduce tax relief for childcare costs and tax breaks for married couples, suggested by Conservative leader David Cameron today, would help the poorest families.

Kate Green, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), said:

“The Conservatives now have a welcome aspiration to eradicate child poverty, but on the face of it their childcare plans would do little for the poorest families. Tax relief for working parents will not help families on low-incomes who pay little or no income tax.

“David Cameron should be judging all his policies to see whether they would help to meet his aspiration to end child poverty and these plans may fail that test. What we really need is more investment in accessible and affordable childcare that is available to all parents, particularly the poorest.”

And responding to the Conservative leader’s suggestion that married couples should benefit from transferable tax allowances, Kate Green added:

“If Mr Cameron is serious about ending child poverty, he should be investing in children first and ensuring all families have an adequate income, whether their parents are married or not.”

For further information please contact:
Alex Belardinelli
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
abelardinelli@cpag.org.uk