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UK's record of tackling child poverty
at risk unless Chancellor lifts the Benefits freeze
RESPONDING to the IFS report Living
standards, poverty and inequality in the UK: 2017 to 2018 to 2021 to 2022, showing that
relative child poverty is set to increase from 30% to 37% by 2021, Campbell
Robb, chief executive at the independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF),
said:- "These shocking figures show the UK's proud record of reducing
child poverty is at risk of unravelling: it could mean an additional 1.2 million
children in poverty by the end of the Parliament. 20 years of progress is at
stake unless the Government takes urgent action in the next Budget. The
biggest drivers of the increase in child poverty are changes to Benefits and Tax
Credits, especially the freeze on most working age Benefits. This will leave
families struggling to cover the rising cost of essentials as Benefits fail to
top up low pay and for those out of work incomes stay the same while prices
rise. The Chancellor must lift the freeze in the Budget so these projections do
not become reality."
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