Uniform child benefit rate urged

The government should increase child benefit to the same rate for all children in order to meet its child poverty targets, a leading campaign group said this week.

The Child Poverty Action Group has launched a campaign, backed by charities including Save the Children and Barnardo’s, on the issue, which it says is vital to the government’s aim of halving child poverty by 2010.

Research produced by CPAG this week says that increasing child benefit will help to cut hardship among large families.

At the moment child benefit is worth £17.45 per week for the first child but only £11.70 per week for second and subsequent children.