Opposition parties outline child poverty measures
Shafik Meghji
Monday, April 28, 2008
Child poverty is "endemic" across much of the UK, the Conservative shadow children's secretary has claimed.
Writing in a 4Children pamphlet on child poverty, Michael Gove called for more flexible childcare and a return to traditional teaching methods to help tackle the problem.
He proposed the introduction of "Back to Work" centres, where people on benefits can access help with job applications, IT skills and interview techniques. He also called for the abolition of the "couple penalty", which he claimed left parents better off if they are living apart, as savings are directed at low-income families.
In the same pamphlet, the Liberal Democrats also attacked the government's record on child poverty and proposed a "pupil premium" - under which higher funding for schools is attached to children from deprived backgrounds - and the raising of child benefits by £5 a week.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls admitted in the document that meeting the government's child poverty targets "is not going to be easy".
He proposed the introduction of "Back to Work" centres, where people on benefits can access help with job applications, IT skills and interview techniques. He also called for the abolition of the "couple penalty", which he claimed left parents better off if they are living apart, as savings are directed at low-income families.
In the same pamphlet, the Liberal Democrats also attacked the government's record on child poverty and proposed a "pupil premium" - under which higher funding for schools is attached to children from deprived backgrounds - and the raising of child benefits by £5 a week.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls admitted in the document that meeting the government's child poverty targets "is not going to be easy".
