Child poverty campaigners condemn Policy Exchange report

20.10.09

A report by the Policy Exchange think tank calling for the scrapping of the government’s child poverty targets has been condemned across the anti-poverty sector.

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

“It is hard to take this poorly reasoned report seriously. At a time when the recession is plunging more children into poverty, calling for targets to be scrapped ignores the evidence that targets have helped to reduce child poverty by 500,000 over the past decade.

"Substantial investment for low income families in the Pre-Budget Report is essential if the government is to come close to its target of halving child poverty by next year. Struggling children and families across the country need support.

We disagree with the reports suggestion that the government should abandon the relative low income indicator – used across Europe – as a way of measuring poverty. We welcome the fact that all of the main political parties are supporting the Child Poverty Bill currently going through parliament and call on politicians from all parties to reject this report."

Notes for editors

• Child Poverty Action Group’s manifesto, published in March 2009, can be found at: www.cpag.org.uk/manifesto
• For up-to-date background facts and stats on UK poverty, visit: www.cpag.org.uk/povertyfacts/
• CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.
• CPAG is one of over 150 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:
Joshua Fenton-Glynn
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
jfentonglynn@cpag.org.uk