Child-friendly chancellor gives boost to lone parents

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21/03/07 The National Council for One Parent Families warmly welcomed the Chancellor's Budget today, confirming his support for all families.

In particular the Charity welcomed:

The increase in Child Benefit for the first child to £20 by 2010.
The increase in the level of Child Tax Credit, targeted at the poorest children.
The extension of the In Work Credit providing additional support for lone parents going back to work, and the additional measures for London.

Chief Executive of the charity Chris Pond says:

"Lone parents will warmly welcome a child friendly budget which puts tackling poverty at its heart. Increases in the level of Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit are vital steps that will be of real help to the 48 per cent of children in lone parent families who are still poor. Lone parents will also welcome the extra support to help them stay in work, and the recognition of the additional challenges in London".

The charity also welcomed additional support for in work training, and childcare, in particular the provision of free childcare for parents undertaking training courses:

"Nine out of ten lone parents want to work, but many need to refresh their skills, so providing childcare while parents undertake training courses is a vital move to help lone parents get the jobs they want. And the partnership with leading retailers to support people into work, building on the success of One Parent Families own work with Marks & Spencer, shows that it is positive measures that will make a real difference to lone parent employment rates."

"We are pleased that the Chancellor has listened to the Campaign to End Child Poverty, of which we are a member. The measures announced today are a significant down-payment on the resources needed to reach the 2010 target of halving child poverty, but more still needs to be done if the promise to millions of children is to be kept".

The charity added that, while the overall message of the Budget for low paid families is positive, it would be looking carefully at the effect of the changes in the Working Tax Credit and lower rate of income tax to fully assess their impact.

ends.

Press contact:

Ellie Backhouse 0207 428 5440

ellie@oneparentfamilies.org.uk

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