UK near bottom of child wellbeing table
Charlotte Goddard
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The UK has been ranked near the bottom of a league table of child wellbeing in European countries put together by researchers at the University of York.
The statistics, which were put together for the Child Poverty Action Group, rank the UK 24th in a list of the 27 European Union countries plus Norway and Iceland.
Child Poverty Action Group's report admits that the data, drawn from 2006, may not fully reflect "many government policy initiatives from the last few years". Indicators, which include infant mortality, risk behaviour, youth inactivity and overcrowding, are grouped into seven areas: health; subjective wellbeing; children's relationships; material resources; behaviour and risk; education and housing and environment.
Kate Green, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: "We need a frank focus on why other countries are doing so much better for their children." She added: "We need to rethink the place of children in today's Britain and ensure the right to a good childhood is central to our national culture. We cannot afford a 'do nothing' budget for our children."
The Netherlands is rated top for child wellbeing and Malta came last. When the United Nations published a similar league table in 2007 the UK came last.
