Information on Loughborough

Loughborough MP Welcomes Chancellor Listening On Child Poverty in UK

Posted on 17/03/2008
J. Milton

child in poverty

Andy Reed has welcomed the Government putting in £1billion of investment to support poor children in the UK. Reed was one of 77 Labour MPs who signed a letter to The Guardian newspaper asking for more help from Government to go to the least well off.

Loughborough MP Andy Reed said:

“The measures announced in the Budget will make a real difference to the lives of 250,000 children. This £1 billion shows the Government’s determination to help the poorest children in society.

“These measures will not on their own hit the crucial target of halving child poverty by 2010 but they are an encouraging and important step forward. I am delighted that the Chancellor is listening to our representations and taking action.”

The Campaign to End Child Poverty welcomed the “Government’s continuing commitment to ending child poverty” in the Budget. Director Hilary Fisher said:

“In such a tight spending round, is it is reassuring to see the government is still serious about lifting children out of poverty. We are hopeful that our heightened campaigning and the government’s renewed focus on children and families are starting to get results. The Chancellor boldly set out the Government’s intention to end child poverty with investments of nearly £1 billion through increasing child benefit and child tax credits.”

Further information:

• 3.8 million children are living in poverty in the UK today, in 1999 the Government pledged to halve child poverty by 2010 and end it in a generation.

• The Campaign to End Child Poverty is a coalition of more than 110 organisations working to eradicate child poverty in the UK. It is formed from childrens and other charities, social justice groups, faith-groups, trade unions and others concerned about the unacceptably high levels of child poverty in the UK.  For more information, visit www.endchildpoverty.org.uk