‘Government must put money where its mouth is’ on child poverty – AM
4 Rhagfyr 2008
Plaid Cymru spokesperson on Child Poverty, Bethan Jenkins AM, has today echoed calls made by charities for the UK Government to invest sufficient resources to combat child poverty, following the pledge in the Queen’s Speech to introduce a Child Poverty Bill.
The UK Government has announced it will enshrine its child poverty eradication targets into law, meaning it must halve child poverty by 2010 and fully eradicate it by 2020.
Speaking from the Senedd today, Ms Jenkins said:
“The Government is talking the talk on child poverty but must put its money where its mouth is and provide the resources necessary to realise its own targets of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating child poverty by 2020.
“Charities estimate that a £3billion investment is needed now to reach the 2010 target, and as children’s charity UNICEF have said, failure to reach this target will serious dent any hopes of reaching the 2020 target.
“How can the UK Government possibly reassert its intention to reach its child poverty targets when in recent weeks we have seen the introduction of draconian welfare reforms where lone parents are being forced into work or face benefit cuts? Why does the Government refuse to introduce a windfall tax on energy companies to help those struggling with high energy bills? There are a number of practical steps this Government can take to help lift children out of poverty. It is yet to deliver any.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
UNICEF UK STATEMENT:
“UNICEF UK is pleased that the Government has used the opportunity of the Queen’s Speech to reiterate their commitment to enshrine in legislation the target to eradicate child poverty in the UK by 2020.
However in order for the Government to make progress towards achieving the 2020 goal, it needs to ensure that sufficient measures are put in place now in order to meet the target to halve child poverty in the UK by 2010.
If the 2010 target is not met on time it will make it all the more difficult to achieve the 2020 target. The legislation needs to be robust and provide a sustained long term approach in order to effectively tackle the high levels of Child Poverty that are manifest in the UK.”
