Child Poverty Action Group marks forty years of campaigning with challenge to politicians
01.03.05

Exactly forty years on from its inaugural meeting, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is today sending a manifesto of demands to every MP and MSP in the country challenging them 'to commit now and wholeheartedly to the actions needed to end child poverty'.

The manifesto 'demands action from politicians at both Westminster and Holyrood,' said John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland.

'From MPs we need to see improvements in tax credits, benefits and the minimum wage. It’s ridiculous that half of poor children actually live in working families. But the Scottish Parliament must also do much, much more. More, for example, to ensure public sector workers aren’t paid poverty wages and more to increase the disposable incomes of our poorest families by extending free school meal entitlement'.

Reception at 11 Downing Street

In addition to the manifesto challenge to politicians the Group last night held a reception at No.11 Downing Street at which campaigners, politicians, academics and policy makers reflected on forty years of fighting child poverty. CPAG President and founding member Peter Townsend and the Chancellor Gordon Brown addressed the event. Among the Scottish guests invited were Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, and Marion Davis, Senior Manager for Policy Services at lone parent organisation One Plus.

'CPAG has played a vital role in keeping the struggle to end child poverty alive over the last forty years. We look forward to working with them to end this scandal long before another forty pass” said Mr. Kelly, whilst Marion Davis added “CPAG in Scotland are important partners in our work to ensure no child, whatever their family circumstances, suffers the damage poverty too often wreaks.'

For further information contact:
John Dickie
Head of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
Tel 0141 552 3656
Mobile 0779 534 0618

• Download a copy of the manifesto (180 KB pdf file)
• Download a leaflet summary of CPAG's manifesto (471 KB pdf file)

Notes:

1. According to the Government’s most recent figures, 280,000 children in Scotland live in poverty. That is, they live in households with less than 60% of the median household income after housing costs. This is the primary method used to measure the number of children experiencing poverty and amounts to only £175 a week for a lone parent with two children or £253 for a couple with two children.

2. CPAG’s ten steps to a society free of child poverty are:

• All political parties to commit to eradicate child poverty.
• Poverty proof policies – make each consistent with eradicating child poverty.
• Uprate the combined value of child tax credit and child benefit at least in line with the fastest growing of prices or earnings. The element of this that is child benefit ought to be maximised.
• Increase the adult payments within income support in line with those for children.
• Reform the administration of tax credits and benefits – ensure they get the right amount, to the right people at the right time.
• Ensure all children have full access to the requirements – meals, uniforms and activities – of their education.
• Provide benefit entitlements to all UK residents equally, irrespective of immigration status.
• Work towards better jobs, not just more jobs.
• Introduce free at the point of delivery, good quality universal childcare.
• Reduce the disproportionate burden of taxation on poorer families.