Government failing Child Poverty Target

5.37.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 27th Mar 2007

The number of children living in relative poverty in the UK rose by 200,000 last year, government figures have revealed. The first increase in nearly a decade casts doubt on Labour's target of halving child poverty by 2010. In 2005-6, 3.8m children were in relative poverty - defined as homes on less than 60% of average income net of housing costs. The figures represent an increase from 3.6 million in the previous year.

David Laws MP said "The government's ambition to cut child poverty now looks in tatters - with Labour likely to miss its 2010 child poverty target by over 1 million children. We need extra investment in education and childcare for the poorest children and a reduction in regressive taxes. Better housing, more employment support, and a more stable and effective benefits system are also essential."