Welfare plans risk plunging families into greater poverty, say child poverty campaigners

05.10.09

Commenting on Conservative Party proposals to cut incapacity benefits Kate Green, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group said:

“It’s absolutely right to find new ways of supporting people into work. But cutting benefits for some of our most vulnerable citizens isn't one of them.  People experiencing ill health and disability already face tough conditions in return for already inadequate levels of benefit. David Cameron should listen to Iain Duncan Smith when he says that introducing ever tighter rules and cutting the generosity of benefits will not increase the employment rate.

“Instead of ever tougher rhetoric we need to see action to remove the real barriers to work like lack of childcare, lack of flexible working and low pay."

Notes for editors

• Ian Duncan Smith’s Centre for Social Justice Report Dynamic Benefits says that introducing ever tighter rules and cutting the generosity of benefits will not increase the employment rate is available at www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/client/downloads/CSJDynamicBenefitsExecWEB.pdf
• Child Poverty Action Group’s manifesto, published in March 2009, can be found at: www.cpag.org.uk/manifesto. It details the actions needed to end UK child poverty.
• For up-to-date background facts and stats on UK poverty, visit: www.cpag.org.uk/povertyfacts/
• CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.

For further information please contact:
Kate Green
Chief Executive
Child Poverty Action Group
kgreen@cpag.org.uk