23rd March, London - Commenting on today’s Spring Statement, Dan Paskins, Director of UK Impact at Save the Children, said:

“The chancellor is burying his head in the sand. In today’s statement he’s refused to face up to the reality of rising prices or to step in and shield the children hardest hit.

“For families on low incomes this crisis has become unbearable. Parents we work with tell us that there’s nothing left to cut back. They’re being forced to skip meals, turn off the heating, and take on unsustainable amounts of debt. Children are going to school hungry because food budgets are stretched so thin.

“The measures the chancellor has announced will benefit those on middle and higher incomes most and won’t come to close to closing the gap rising prices have left in family budgets.  

“A 5p cut to fuel duty coupled with an increase to the national insurance threshold translates into an additional £18.40 per month for the poorest families, in the context of a real-terms income cut of £55 a month. And while we welcome the continuation of the Household Support Fund, it’s designed for one-off unexpected costs, so this measure is grossly insufficient when families are facing soaring costs every day.

“The government must do more. The best way to support the families who are struggling most is to increase social security payments to match the rate at which prices are increasing.”

ENDS

Analysis based on 5p increase to fuel duty providing £1.80 per month to two lowest income deciles and an increase of the NI threshold to £12,500 providing families on low incomes with an additional £250 a year: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/softening-the-blow/

Spokespeople are available for interview.