Health strategy will be more successful if child poverty targets are met

Commenting on the children’s health strategy document published today, ‘Healthy lives, brighter future: the strategy for children and young people’s health’, the Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“It is real progress to see the publication of a specific health strategy for children binding health more closely into the child poverty strategy. There is new investment too, particularly for disabled children, which we very much welcome.

“The links between child poverty, poor health and disability are well known. Government success on its targets to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020 is essential to improving the health of all our children and making the new strategy a success.”

On the piloting of free school meal she added:

“The Government are moving in the right direction with these pilots. We already know from pilots in Scotland and Hull that free school meals can improve health, concentration and learning for children, so we would like to see them moving even faster to bring free school meals to as many children as possible.”

Notes for editors

• 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.
• CPAG is one of over 150 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
tnichols@cpag.org.uk