Budget will not Eradicate Child Poverty in Wales

5.18.07pm GMT Wed 21st Mar 2007

Commenting on welfare announcements contained in today's Budget, Jenny Willott MP, said:

"Seven years ago Gordon Brown claimed that eradicating child poverty was this generation's duty to the next. Yet even after today's announcements he remains on course to miss his 2010 child poverty target by around 50,000 Welsh children.

"Brown's increased investment in the tax credit system has fallen hopelessly short of the £4.2 billion the Joseph Rowntree Foundation calculated the Chancellor would need to meet the 2010 target.

"The Chancellor must accept that throwing ever more money at the failed tax credits system, is not the way to eradicate child poverty."