Abacus Daily Debt News

Budget ‘must help low-income groups’

The government has been called upon to use this year’s Budget, due to be announced later this week, to offer more help to low-income families.

Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said that despite the economic downturn, the chancellor "still has the resources" to aid poor households.

"We cannot afford a ‘do nothing’ Budget for struggling families. Family security and economic security are inseparable," she argued.

She urged the government to act "decisively" in order to avoid a repeat of the 1980s recession, in which unemployment and industrial collapse "left a legacy of intergenerational poverty".

The charity has unveiled a report claiming that extra benefits support for those who have lost their jobs could have a "stimulus impact" of over £10 billion.

Chancellor Alistair Darling will present his Budget announcement to the House of Commons on Wednesday April 22nd at around 12:30 BST.
By Jamie Price