Eleanor Burnham AM shocked at Labour and Plaid's record on child poverty levels in Wales (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Eleanor Burnham AM shocked at Labour and Plaid's record on child poverty levels in Wales

May 26, 2009 10:00 AM

Eleanor Burnham, North Wales Liberal Democrat AM has today criticised the Labour-Plaid government for their lack of commitment and action to tackle child poverty in Wales. Statistics released earlier this month reveal that child poverty levels in Wales have gone back to 2003 levels while the percentage of children living in poverty in Scotland has fallen and Northern Ireland has remained constant.

The information released from the Department for Work and Pensions show that the percentage of children living in Households Below Average Income (After Housing Costs) in Wales has increased from 29% in 06/07 to 32% in 07/08.

Eleanor Burnham said "These statistics are a huge blow to the fight against child poverty in Wales and proves the lack of action and firm commitment from the Labour-Plaid government in tackling this issue. It is unacceptable that the percentage of children living in poverty in Wales has gone back to the levels it was five years ago.

"How has the Scottish government managed to get more children out of poverty and this Welsh government has managed to put more children back in to poverty? The Labour-Plaid government is losing the fight against child poverty.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats have been warning the Labour-Plaid government for a long time that they aren't doing enough to get children out of this poverty trap. Economic poverty among children leads to a poverty of goals and ambitions and continues the vicious cycle of families living in poverty from one generation to the next. This vicious circle must be broken.

"What chance does this government have of abolishing child poverty levels if it can't even reach half way?

"This is more than just a missed target for the Labour-Plaid government; it's a missed opportunity for thousands of children in Wales. Child poverty is social injustice at its worst."