Child Poverty Figures Deeply Disappointing

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 10 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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As a founding member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, NCB is deeply disappointed to learn that the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) statistics, released today, show no discernible change in child poverty figures in the UK. Despite a commitment ten years ago to eradicate child poverty within a generation, child poverty has risen significantly in the past two years.

While some progress has been made, the Government is off track on its targets. The 2009 budget invested less than a pint of milk, per week, per child in family incomes, despite the fact that putting money back in the hands of parents is known to be the key way to lift children out of poverty. While NCB welcomes the forthcoming child poverty legislation, it's calling on Government to do more to end child poverty and to invest in children and families suffering now.

Paul Ennals, NCB Chief Executive, said, "Following three years of no progress, the Government's commitment to end child poverty is starting to appear meaningless. We need the Government to now set a revised target for when they expect to halve child poverty, and a clear roadmap for how they intend to achieve it."

Source
NCB

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