Budget 2008 - more cash to tackle child poverty
Save the Children responds to Chancellor Alistair Darling's first budget
Wednesday 12 March 2008
Jason Strelitz, Save the Children child poverty spokesman, said:
"Alistair Darling's recommitment to halving child poverty by 2010 and ending it by 2020 is good news, but Save the Children is worried that his investment does not match his ambition.
"The measures the Chancellor announced today are designed to lift 250,000 children out of poverty - a quarter of a million children's lives will be improved.
"But even with the new investment, the government will miss its own 2010 target by as many as 450,000 children.
"To keep the promise of lifting these children out of poverty by 2010, the government should introduce seasonal grants of £100 per child for the poorest families, and an extra £100 per family in Winter to help with costs like fuel.
"These would lift up to 440,000 children out of poverty and give the government a good chance of hitting its 2010 target and keeping its promise to these children. It would be a ground-breaking achievement.
"We are pleased the Chancellor is focusing on fuel costs. We want the government to use the upcoming Energy Bill to enforce a minimum standard of social tariffs, and for energy companies to bring their pre-pay meter charges in line with their cheapest rates.
Hillary Fisher, Director of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, said:
"We believe that with nearly £1 billion in today's budget the Government has shown its determination to keep its promise of a generation and invest in the 3.8 million children being held back by poverty in the UK today.
"Today's measures will not on their own hit the crucial target of halving child poverty by 2010 but they are an encouraging and important step forward. The Campaign to End Child Poverty will continue to increase the pressure on the government this year to keep its child poverty promise."
Save the Children is part of the Campaign to End Child Poverty.
-ENDS-
For more information please contact the media unit on: +44 207 012 6841 / +44 7831 650 409 (out of hours) / media@savethechildren.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Save the Children is the world's independent children's charity. We're outraged that millions of children are still denied proper healthcare, food, education and protection. We're working flat out to get every child their rights and we're determined to make further, faster changes. How many? How fast? It's up to you.
