SPENDING ROUND FAILS TO SET A COURSE TO RELEASE 4.1M CHILDREN FROM GRIP OF POVERTY

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A statement from Anna Feuchtwang, Chair of the End Child Poverty coalition and Chief Executive of NCB on the Chancellor’s Spending Round:

‘We are astounded that the 4.1 million children currently living in poverty in the UK were not worthy of a mention by the Chancellor in his Spending Round. He offered no comfort to low income families who are struggling – despite being in work – to put food on the table, let alone provide the healthy and happy childhood that we as a society believe all children should enjoy. The lack of investment in a key pillar of our welfare state – the social security system – will thwart the success of investment in other public services. For unless the main barrier to educational achievement and good health – poverty – is taken away, then children in the UK from low income families will continue to fall behind their better off peers. We are disappointed that the end of the benefit freeze was not announced, that the Government has not reversed its cruel two child limit and only announced limited reforms to Universal Credit. This was an opportunity to set out an ambitious strategy to rid the UK of child poverty. Instead, the message from Government is clear – these children do not matter. They have been forgotten.”

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