“It’s time to call an end to child poverty”- Welsh Lib Dems

Today (10^th January 2024) in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have called for an end to child poverty in Wales.

According to a report from the Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee, titled “Calling time on child poverty: how Wales can do better”, 28% of children in Wales are living in poverty. That equates to eight children in a classroom of 30.

The same report recommended the creation of a Minister for Babies, Children and Young People.

The following countries have a similar Minister role to the one recommended by the committee:

·       Rate of child poverty in Ireland is 15% (Minister for Children, Equality, Disability and Integration and Youth).

·       Rate of child poverty in New Zealand is 12% (Minister for Children and the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence).

·       Rate of child poverty in Australia is 16% (Minister for Families).

·       Rate of child poverty in Finland is 13% (Minister for children, youth, and families).

The Welsh Lib Dems have also criticised the Welsh Labour government for lacking resolve in fighting to end child poverty.

Commenting, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

“As the new year begins, It’s time we called an end to child poverty here in Wales.

Whilst working on the “Calling time on child poverty: how Wales can do better” we (Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee) heard from experts from across different sectors and the message we received was clear, the Welsh Government lacks the right vision needed to properly tackle this crisis.

Their response to our findings and recommendations has been nothing short of disappointing.

We recommended a Minister for Babies, Children and Young People, something which the Welsh Labour Government has dismissed.

New Zealand, Australia, Finland, and Ireland are all nations which have a similar Minister to what we in the committee recommended. And in all of these countries, child poverty is considerably lower than in Wales.

When I first came into politics, one of my main motivations was to eradicate the truly heartbreaking examples of child poverty that I saw when working in child protection. And I am determined now more than ever to continue that work.

We must act now, not tomorrow or the day after that, but now if we are being serious about eradicating child poverty here in Wales.

Every child living in poverty is a stain on the record of this Senedd, if we as elected officials and representatives of the people can’t come together and crack down on this issue, then I must ask why we’re all here in the first place?

No more empty words and unfulfilled promises, we need action.”