Government figures showed that 100,000 more children were living inpoverty during 2005/06 than in 2004/05. And, after housing costs aretaken into consideration, there were 200,000 more. In total 2.8mchildren were in poverty in 2005/06 before housing costs rising to 3.8mchildren after housing costs were considered.
Martin Narey, the chief executive of Barnardo's, called the rise adisgrace.
"In 1999, we were all excited by the Government's determination toeradicate child poverty and halve it by 2010," said Narey. "But it isnow clear that they did not intend to halve it by 2010, but to reduce ita bit."
The Child Poverty Action Group called on the Government to put moremoney into tax credits and child benefit. "The Government can still meetthe 2010 target, but it will need an extra 4bn annualinvestment," said Kate Green, chief executive of the action group.
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