Milburn calls for cross-party cooperation to end child poverty (11 June 2014)

Government watchdog the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has said the government’s target of ending child poverty will not be achieved by 2020.

The committee is chaired by former New Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn.

Mr Milburn has called the coalition government’s draft strategy for the next three years “a missed opportunity”, BBC News reports. He added that the current policy to end child poverty by 2020 falls “far short” of what is needed.

“Our new research shows that the gap between the objective of making child poverty history and the reality is becoming ever wider, “ he said.

Mr Milburn is calling for all political parties to address the issue of child poverty and work together to help reach a solution.

“Across the political spectrum, party leaders now need to come clean about what they plan to do to hit the targets, or what progress they can deliver if they expect to fall short,” he said.

The government recently announced in its March Budget statement that childcare tax breaks for working families will be extended to children under the age of 12 – the government’s childcare tax-break scheme is now worth up to £2,000 per child annually.

However, welfare benefit cuts are taking their toll on families, along with the cost of rising energy prices, leaving some families in both fuel and food poverty, with more families resorting to using food banks to feed their children.

Duncan Lewis Childcare Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of childcare solicitors and can advise families on childcare law, including children taken into Local Authority care, care proceedings and Court of Protection.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on child contact and residence following divorce or judicial separation, and ancillary payments.

For expert legal advice on children law, contact Duncan Lewis solicitors on 020 7923 4020.r