Alan Beith MP backs campaign to end child poverty

3.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jul 2008

Sir Alan Beith MP has demanded that the Government ends child poverty as he signed up to the "Keep the promise" campaign. He called on people to back the campaign and demand a better future for children across the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency and beyond.

The campaign is being run by End Child Poverty, which is mobilising public support to ensure the Government keeps its promise to end child poverty. Without urgent investment in the next year any progress on child poverty is at risk. The charity is asking people to sign an online petition, campaign locally, and attend the largest ever event to end child poverty, in London on 4 October this year.

Sir Alan said:

"We are one of the richest countries in the world, yet we have higher rates of child poverty than many other countries. Child poverty robs people of the opportunities to succeed in education and in the workplace. We can see the damage poverty does for children and our country. Please join me, support the campaign and help end child poverty."

In the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency 15% of children live in households with very low incomes. Across the North East 33% of children live below the poverty line. Across the UK 3.9m children, approximately 1 in 3, live in poverty, one of the worst rates in Europe. In 1999 the Government pledged to eradicate child poverty. Since then 600,000 children have been lifted out of poverty, however, much more needs to be done in order to achieve the goal.

Hilary Fisher, Director of End Child Poverty, said:

"We're delighted to have the support of Sir Alan Beith for Keep the Promise campaign. It's vital that people get involved by signing the online petition and attending the London event. This is a historic opportunity for us all to demonstrate to the Government and all political parties that child poverty is no longer acceptable in our country. We can make a difference to the lives of millions of children and their families."

Research has shown that poverty affects every aspect of a child's life. Children from poor homes are more likely to leave school earlier with fewer qualifications and therefore fewer employment prospects. Only 9% of children in the poorest fifth of the population attend university by the age of 23 compared to 46% of those in the wealthiest.

Poverty also impacts on health. Children from poor backgrounds are born too small, with a lower average birth weight. Low birth weight is closely associated with infant death and chronic disease later in life.

Members of the public who want to support the End Child Poverty campaign by signing the online petition, campaigning locally or by attending the London event should visit www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/promise

One in three children are in poverty in the UK today (after housing costs). In some areas, such as inner London and Central Manchester the levels can rise to as high as one in two. Poverty shortens lives, damages children's health and well being. Children growing up in deprived areas of the country will have shorter lives than those growing up on wealthier areas. Over half of children in poverty are from families with one or more parent in work. Over 40% of children in poverty are from Lone parent families. By the age of three, the poorest children are about nine months behind better off peers in their learning development. By the age of 14, the poorest children are about two years the wealthiest in their education. 1 in 7 children are growing up homeless or in bad housing. Adults who suffered poverty as children are 50% more likely to have limiting illnesses. The poorest families in the UK pay higher prices for basic necessities such as gas, electricity and telephones because they can't afford to pay by direct debit. The extra costs of acquiring credit and in purchasing goods and services can amount to a 'poverty premium' of £1,000 a year - 9% of the disposable income of an average-size family.