Child poverty in Wales is falling further and faster than in any part if the UK said First Minister Rhodri Morgan today as he welcomed Chancellor Gordon Brown to Wales.
Rhodri Morgan and Gordon Brown joined Cardiff North candidate Sophie Howe at Llanishen Fach Primary School in Cardiff to highlight Welsh Labour's commitment to place child poverty at the heart of Labour's Assembly manifesto and to child poverty proof all of the party's manifesto commitments.
The First Minister, Chancellor and Sophie Howe re-affirmed the party's pledge to an extra Children's Bond for all children entering school.
RHODRI MORGAN said:
"It is the Labour partnership between the Assembly and Westminster that has delivered a 20 per cent fall in child poverty since 1999. A decade ago, the level of children living in poverty in Wales was well above the UK average. Today the rate has fallen below the overall level in the UK."
"Labour is the only party offering clear and deliverable plans to tackle child poverty in Wales, placing it at the heart of our manifesto with the aim to eradicate child poverty by 2020."
Sophie Howe said:
"Through schemes such as free school breakfasts, a record increase in child benefit, flying start and extra child care places we are making a real difference to families across Wales. We are committed to a £50 top-up to the Child Trust Fund, rising to £100 for low income families for school-age children."
"Labour will use the new powers of the Assembly to tackle child poverty and support our most vulnerable children. There is only one party serious about tackling child poverty in this election and that is Labour. The children of Wales can't affor Tory Minister in charge of Wales once more."
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