UNICEF UK claim that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, has failed the 3.9 million children living in poverty by pledging only a 38p per week increase to child tax credits. Calls had been made to the Chancellor to commit at least £3 billion through child benefit and tax credits in this years budget, with this being the last opportunity to halve child poverty in the UK by 2010 – a promise now doomed to failure.

Head of Public Affairs at UNICEF UK, Alison Marshall, said -

The Chancellor’s 38p per week extra in child tax credits is tiny. We already know that children living in poverty have the worst health and worst prospects in life and this announcement means these children will continue to be disadvantaged and excluded as the cost of living soars. The UK can ill afford to ignore the effects of child poverty which cost the Exchequer £25 billion each year. Without a £3 billion investment, children across the UK will continue to face the costs of social disadvantage and exclusion.

UNICEF UK acknowledges the need to support the unemployed back into work, but putting money into the hands of parents in the form of child benefit is the crucial factor in lifting children out of poverty. Last October the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child called for the Government to fulfil its obligation to committing the maximum available resources to cope with child poverty, this has not happened.

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