Time for Government to back up targets on child poverty with resources

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Jul 2009

In the Assembly, Children and Families Measure debate yesterday, Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children and Young People called on the Welsh Assembly Government to back up targets to reduce child poverty in Wales with resources:

Eleanor Burnham said "Whilst targets on child poverty are admirable they desperately need to be backed up with resources. Targeting itself does not effect change, as we have seen, unfortunately, with the Welsh Government's approach to setting targets in other areas, particularly health.

"Only last week, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation launched its latest study into child poverty in Wales and despite the Labour-Plaid Government's assertions that they are dealing with child poverty in Wales the figures have increased. It is shocking that the risk of children in Wales living in poverty rose last year for the first time since the Tories were in power and in Wales we have one of the highest rates of child poverty anywhere in the UK.

"Unless a radical review of government policies is carried out it looks likely that the Labour -Plaid prospect of halving child poverty in Wales by 2010, never mind eradicating it by 2020, is extremely unlikely.