Poverty drive 'needs £3.8bn or it fails'

The Government will fail to meet its target of halving child poverty by 900,000 children by 2010 unless it invests an extra Pounds 3.8bn, according to Barnado's. The charity's report, It doesn't happen here: The reality of child poverty in the UK, published last week, calls for Pounds 3.8bn to be put towards increasing benefits and tax credits. It also calls on the Government to 'remove barriers to work' by addressing the shortage of 'appropriate and affordable' childcare available to parents.