Child Poverty Action Group writes to Chancellor calling for family security measures in PBR

Child Poverty Action Group has called on the Government to put family security at the heart of the PBR package of measures to stimulate the economy.

Chief Executive, Kate Green, said:

“In a recession, you have to do right by children. It wasn’t them who played fast and loose on the financial markets and put the economy in crisis.

“The moral case for keeping the promise to halve child poverty by 2010 is now matched by the economic urgency of giving our ailing economy a cash boost through family purses.

“The poorest families need most help during the economic downturn and are far more likely than wealthier families to go straight out and spend in the local economy on the things their children need. Family security is essential to regaining economic security.

“A total package of up to £20 billion is expected in the PBR to keep the economy moving. Just £3 billion of this is needed to help keep the promise to halve child poverty by 2010.”

Earlier this month Kate Green wrote to the Chancellor outlining the measures needed in the PBR to halve child poverty, protect family security and regain economic security. These include:

• Channelling tax cuts through tax credit increases and using child benefit increases to halve child poverty and get families spending.
• Revising welfare reforms designed for a growing economy and investing in Jobcentre Plus so claimants are given high quality support to return to work.
• Cutting tax perks for the wealthiest, so that those who can afford it and gained most from the boom years help support the cost of economic rescue package.

Notes for editors

• The letter from CPAG’s Chief Executive, Kate Green, the Chancellor can be found at http://www.cpag.org.uk/info/briefings_policy/CPAG_PBR_letter_041108.pdf
• 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 130 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