No bias in favour of lone parents

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13/06/07 One Parent Families|Gingerbread refutes the suggestion stemming from today's report from think-tank Reform that lone parents are better off than couple-families as a result of the tax credits and benefits system.

One Parent Families|Gingerbread' Chief Executive Chris Pond said:

"It is adding insult to injury to suggest that lone parents, half of whose children are living in poverty, are receiving disproportionate support.

"Anti-poverty measures must target all children whatever their family type but today's report is misleading in suggesting that lone parents are better off than couple-families in the same situation. The figures fail to take account of the fact that working lone parents have only one wage and must cover childcare costs.

Of course poverty in couple- families must be tackled but far from treating lone parents generously, the UK is particularly bad at protecting them from poverty with the second highest child poverty rate in the EU15 for lone parents. Half of all children living with a lone parent are poor, twice the rate of poverty in couple-families. Forty one per cent of lone parents have gross weekly household incomes under £200, compared to eight per cent of married couple-families and eleven per cent of cohabiting families. Policies need to target increased spending at the poorest families with children, irrespective of their family's shape. "

For more information read the following briefing - For better or worse: partnership and money.

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