TUC: Poverty 'inaction' costs £40bn

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The TUC said it had been a "desperately disappointing" few days for Britain's poorest children because spending commitments announced by the Government had fallen "far short" of the £4 billion the union group said was needed to halve child poverty by 2010.

The cost of inaction on child poverty was 10 times the cost of reducing it, according to the TUC, which will hold a conference on the subject in London to mark World Poverty Day.

The TUC said £4 billion should be spent on cutting child poverty, paid for by a fairer taxation of the "super rich".

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "As the world focuses on the plight of children around the globe, it's shocking that 3.8 million children in the UK are living in poverty. Child poverty costs £40 billion a year, or £2,500 for every family in the UK, so it's a problem none of us can afford to ignore.

"Last week the Chancellor had a golden opportunity to show his commitment to ending child poverty. Instead, he decided to transfer meagre tax levies from the super-rich to the merely well-off.

"The Government risks further losing sight of its child poverty pledge by looking into Tory tax breaks for married couples. Child poverty can only be eradicated by focusing on the needs of the children, not on the marital status of the parents.

"An extra investment of £4 billion is needed to halve child poverty by 2010, but the cost of inaction is 10 times greater. The Government is running out of time to meet its child poverty pledge.

"We urge the Government to take decisive action."