Government behind target on child poverty

The government is 14 years behind its target to halve child poverty by 2010 and needs to invest at further £4bn, according to Save the Children. Alistair Darling, the chancellor, was criticised by child poverty campaigners for announcing only that he would double the amount of child maintenance a family could receive without affecting their family benefits to £20 a week next year, and then £40 a week in 2010, in last week's pre-Budget report. He also said he would increase the child tax credit by £25 a year from April.