‘Child poverty rates inexcusable’ – Fearon
Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon has said that she is shocked at the findings by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) indicating that Relative Child Poverty and Absolute Child Poverty figures will climb to 30.9% and 38.5% respectively by 2021.
Commenting on the findings, Fearon said that the figures represent a disaster for those families and children directly affected and are an indictment of the British Government’s tax and benefits policies which are ‘clearly targeted at making the lives of the most disadvantaged even more difficult’.
Speaking to Newry Times, Fearon said, “The Child Poverty Act sets us a target of reducing Relative Child Poverty to less than 10% and Absolute Child Poverty to less than 5% by 2020 yet the IFS report is unequivocal in stating; ‘the child poverty figures set out in the 2010 Child Poverty Act are unachievable’.
“This report pulls no punches, making it clear that the rise in child poverty is a direct consequence of the tax and benefit policies being pursued by Westminster. In fact it comes as no surprise to see that the projected figures for child poverty in the North are in the region of 10% higher than the average figures.
“It is plain to see that the British Tory agenda is not working for people here. Given these findings I think that it is imperative that the Executive in the Assembly continues its Delivering Social Change agenda and where possible seeks, with the co-operation of all Ministers, to examine where additional resources could be found.
“I call on all Ministers to review their budgets with a view to re-prioritising spend not just to assist the most disadvantaged within our society but also to live up to the Assembly and Executive’s Programme for Government (PfG) commitments,” she continued.
“One practical step that all Departments could take would be to ensure that they act upon the PfG commitment to build social clauses into all contracts.
“Developing an enhanced approach to social clauses could help assist those in long-term unemployment gain re-entry into the labour market. Additionally the Executive should seek to ensure that people are paid a Living Wage thus freeing them from dependency on the Benefits system.
Fearon added, “There is an onus on us as political leaders to defend and assist the least well off within our society. No one can doubt that disadvantaged children are the most vulnerable within our society and unless we redouble our efforts to address child poverty we are condemning future generations to a bleak future.”
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Maybe some representation at Westminster would help affect change, no?