Children being allowed to starve in this country is an absolute disgrace - Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Elizabeth Nash, Former Labour member, Leeds City Council, Leeds.

I refer to Victoria Finan’s report (The YP, November 30) of a group of parents from York campaigning to have the child benefit restored to all children. I support them totally. It is an absolute disgrace that a developed country has over four million children who, at best are ill-nourished and, at worst, starving.

Child benefits were introduced by the Labour Government in 1947/48 and it was then called ‘family allowance’. It was introduced not only as a welfare benefit but also to encourage families to have more children. It was recognised that after the two devastating world wars the country was heading into difficulty by not having enough adults to work in our industries and public services.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The first-born child did not then qualify for family allowance. I recall attending a meeting of the Child Poverty Action Group in the early 1960s with guest speaker former Labour Member of Parliament Frank Field. They were campaigning for the allowance to be extended to first-borns as, obviously, they cost more with the provision of cots, prams, clothing and other equipment. It was the Labour Government, later in the 1960s, which legislated for family allowance to be paid for all children.

Children playing on swings. PIC: Gareth Fuller/PA WireChildren playing on swings. PIC: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Children playing on swings. PIC: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

We are now informed that the birth rate has fallen to an average of 1.46 children per household. This is a serious situation as soon there will not be enough adults to work in our public services especially the NHS and care services for older people.

It is going to take the new Labour Government some time to find the money to reverse the cuts to services made by the Conservatives especially to local councils. But our children have to be our priority.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1754
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice