Child poverty: Budget welcomed as first step

The Budget's commitment to tackling child poverty has been largely welcomed by family charities.

Alistair Darling has made nearly £1 billion available for tackling child poverty, welcomed as "vital support" by the Children's Society.

Although the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg claimed the Budget did little for the poor, the charity "applauded" the government's effort to lift children out of the poverty trap.

Chief executive Bob Reitemeier said: "It will not be cheap, and it will not be easy, but the benefits it will bring to the 3.8 million children living in poverty today are priceless."

But he cautioned there was still a "long way to go" before child poverty is abolished.

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) said today's £1 billion shows a commitment from the government and keeps the 2010 target of halving child poverty within reach.

Overall the Budget is "excellent news" for the poorest children, CPAG said, with Mr Darling's intent "clear" as he takes a "significant step".

But the Fawcett Society said the chancellor's investment would not be sufficient to meet government targets, labelling the increase to child benefit as a short-term measure.

Katherine Rake, the society's director, said the government had so far paid only "lip service" to the risk that having a child will move a woman into poverty.

"This budget offers no real solutions to the fundamental factors driving child poverty, such as the gender pay gap, and the lack of flexible working options for mothers," she said.