PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has called on Chancellor Gordon brown to do more to tackle child poverty by raising incomes and improving services. He made his demands following the publication of the pre-budget report consultation document: "Tackling Child Poverty: Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life". The report identifies four key areas to tackling child poverty providing more support for family finances

giving priority to children's services, especially health and education

offering support to parenting for life

pursuing a partnership with the voluntary and community sectors.

Mr Prentice said: "The Government has already made a start in lifting more than a million children out of poverty.

"Child benefit now stands at a record £$15.50 for the eldest child and the introduction of the working families' tax credit and child tax credit are giving real help to families in Pendle."

He continued: "The Government's Sure Start initiative in two of Nelson's most deprived wards is now making a real difference by working with parents and children to improve the health and well-being of pre-school children."

The MP added: "But more needs to be done. Child poverty is a reflection on us all and every child deserves the best possible start in life."

Mr Prentice said that as a result of tax and benefit changes families with children in Pendle were already on average £1,000 a year better off, that 11,116 families were benefiting from rises in child benefit and that 2,680 low and middle income families were £30 a week better off on average through the working families' tax credit.