Thursday 7 May 2009
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."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
NCB's mission is to advance the well-being of all children and
young people across every aspect of their lives. As a membership
and infrastructure support agency for the children's sector in
England and Northern Ireland, NCB provides essential information on
policy, research and best practice for our members and the members
of our wide range of partnership bodies, which operate under our
charitable status and are based in our London headquarters. For
further information visit http://www.ncb.org.uk/
For further information on NCB, please contact the NCB Media
Office:
Clare Quarrell/Clare Lilley/Aoife Allen on 0207 843
6044/6047
Media Office Mobile - 07721 097033 or e-mail: media@ncb.org.uk
