Plaid AM calls for an end to 56,000 children’s Christmas in poverty
27 December 2008
Let this be the last Christmas that as many as 56,000 children in Wales won’t have enough food to eat, never mind the luxury of a present. That was the message from Plaid Cymru AM and Child Poverty spokesperson, Bethan Jenkins, who is calling for the London Labour government to uphold its promises and take serious action to end Child Poverty.
Severe poverty means families surviving on an average of £7,000 a year after housing costs. With £7,000 a year a family has only £19 a day to cover fuel and other bills, food, clothes, washing, transport, activities for children and everything else.
The Plaid AM for South Wales West also expressed concern that in the current economic climate, even more families could fall into poverty.
Plaid AM for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins said:
“It is totally unacceptable in this day and age that as many as 56,000 children in Wales are living in severe poverty. At a time when most children in Wales are looking forward to opening their presents on Christmas day, it is incredible to think how many Welsh children will have to go without. Thousands of parents are struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table let alone provide the gifts that they’d love their child to have at Christmas.
“The London Labour government makes all the right noises when it comes to child poverty eradication targets, but when it comes down to it, they aren’t putting adequate resources into realising their targets. Charities estimate that a £3billion investment is needed now to reach the London Government’s own target of halving child poverty by 2010.
“In the current economic climate Christmas is looking bleak for many more Welsh families this Christmas. It’s about time the London Labour government put its money where its mouth is and put in the resources so that next year, fewer Welsh children have to face the chilling prospect of Christmas in poverty.”
