Budget will not eradicate child poverty - Brooke

3.01.44pm GMT Wed 21st Mar 2007

Annette has pledged to do all she can to combat child poverty

Commenting on welfare announcements contained in today's Budget, Annette Brooke MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families, 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 over 1 million 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.

"By increasing the rate at which tax credits are withdrawn while at the same time abolishing the starting rate of income tax, low income families will face even higher effective tax rates.

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