End Child Poverty - Budget brings Victory for Children (March 2008)

Press Release from the Campaign to End Child Poverty.

£1billion investment in today's budget is a significant victory for poor children in the UK. 

The Campaign to End Child Poverty welcomes today's budget as a signal of the Government's continuing commitment to ending child poverty. Director Hilary Fisher said:

"In such a tight spending round, is it is reassuring to see the government is still serious about lifting children out of poverty. We are hopeful that our heightened campaigning and the government's renewed focus on children and families are starting to get results.

"The Chancellor boldly set out the Government's intention to end child poverty with investments of nearly £1 billion through increasing child benefit and child tax credits.

The measures announced today will make a real difference to the lives of 250,000 children."

"With nearly 1 billion in today's budget the Government has shown it's determination to keep their promise of a generation and invest in the 3.8 million children being held back by poverty in the today. Today's measures will not on their own hit the crucial target of halving child poverty by 2010 but they are an encouraging and important step forward."

"The Campaign to End Child Poverty will increase the pressure on the government this year to keep its child poverty promise."

Notes to editors 

Director, Hilary Fisher is available for further comment, call the press office on 0207 278 6745

3.8 million children are living in poverty in the today, in 1999 the Government pledged to halve child poverty by 2010 and end it in a generation.

The Campaign to End Child Poverty is a coalition of more than 110 organisations working to eradicate child poverty in the . It is formed from children's and other charities, social justice groups, faith-groups, trade unions and others concerned about the unacceptably high levels of child poverty in the . For more information, visit www.endchildpoverty.org.uk

The comments in this release represent the views of the Campaign to End Child Poverty and do not necessarily reflect the views of member organisations.

For further information contact Laura Payne on 07929125589.