27-2-08
‘Break the link between disability and child poverty’ urges Barrett

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today called on the Government to do more to break the link between disability and child poverty during a special Commons debate.

Mr Barrett, who is Liberal Democrat Disability Spokesman, called on the Government to reform the Disability Living Allowance and warned that targets on child poverty would be missed without targeted action to support disabled children.

Speaking during the debate John Barrett said:

“While poverty and disability often go hand in hand this link is not inevitable and it a link we will have to break if we are to have any chance of meeting the child poverty targets.

“It is a tragic fact that disabled children are far more likely than their non-disabled counterparts to be victims of poverty.

“Not only do families with disabled children tend to have lower incomes but as a double blow, their living costs are often significantly higher. In total caring for a severely disabled child costs 3 times more than caring for a non-disabled child.

“We now need thorough reform of the Disability Living Allowance and a commitment from Ministers that the Governments approach to tackling child poverty will have measures to support families with disabled children at its core.”

Notes

John Barrett was speaking in a Westminster Hall debate entitled ‘Child Poverty’.