Treasury committee demands more support for struggling families

Commenting on the publication of the Treasury Committee’s report on the Pre-Budget Report, which is critical of the Government’s failure to invest in meeting the 2010 target to halve child poverty, the Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“While the banks have been bailed out with billions, most financial crisis meetings are not in the boardroom but around the kitchen tables of struggling families.

“Obama’s economic advisers favour the evidence in support of putting money in the hands of the poor as effective fiscal stimulus. Gordon Brown’s government must do so too.

“There is an urgent need for fiscal stimulus targeted to poor families in the Budget. The Chancellor can both keep the promise to halve child poverty, and put money directly into the hands of struggling families who will spend on essentials and boost their local economy.”

Notes for editors

• The Director of Economic Policy for Obama’s election campaign, now appointed Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, has published an article on fiscal stimulus and poverty for Stanford University, arguing that: “Putting money in the hands of the poor can help reduce the severity of a recession.” www.stanford.edu/group/scspi/pdfs/pathways/summer_2008/Furman.pdf
• CPAG's evidence in the Pre-Budget Report on the Treasury website: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmtreasy/27/2707.htm
• 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 130 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