Charity calls for better support for struggling families

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has written to the Chancellor Alistair Darling ahead of tomorrow’s Pre Budget Report (PBR) to urge him to target support on struggling families.

The charity has outlined a number of proposals which it argues could improve the situation of low income families and move the Government closer to it’s 2010 target to halve child poverty. It also claims the proposals would lead to long term savings by cutting the estimated £25 billion child poverty costs the UK each year.

The measures CPAG are calling for include:

- tackling in-work poverty by increasing the minimum wage and providing universal free school meals
- allowing low income families to keep more of the benefits they need to stay afloat as they move into work.
- increasing child benefit and tax credits to help families.

John Dickie, Acting Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group said.

“The Chancellor must use this pre budget report to show us that he is committed to helping struggling families. Without decisive action the Government stands to miss its own 2010 target of halving child poverty by an unacceptable 500,000 children.”

“Protecting children from poverty must be the priority, particularly in the current economic climate of recession and rising unemployment. The Chancellor must use the PBR to target support on those who need it most -our worst off families.”