by Keith Richmond

KATE GREEN, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, says the failure of the Government to meet its targets on child poverty in Britain is a “moral disgrace”.

Official figures, released on Tuesday, revealed a rise in the number of children living in poverty for the second successive year.

The Government described the rise – by 100,000 in 2006/07 to 2.9 million – as “disappointing”.

Ms Green said: “It’s a moral disgrace that we still have one of the worst child poverty records in Europe. Other countries do better, so why should British children suffer? We can – and we must – end our child poverty shame.”

She added: “Ministers cannot take a holiday from their promise to end child poverty, or this is what happens. Every year progress must be planned, invested in and achieved. And every year we must act to end the inequality that is blighting Britain and turning us into a divided nation.”

The figures make it look much less likely that the Government will meet its target of halving child poverty – the number of children in households with an income of 60 per cent or less of average earnings – by 2010.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies predicts the Government will miss its target by half a million children.

But Ms Green said: “We all know the 2010 target can be met. We all know that even in tight Budget years, funding for the most important needs can be found. Failure in 2010 would not be due to a lack of national wealth, but a lack of moral leadership.

“This year’s pre-Budget will be a time for political courage from the Chancellor for poor children. As a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, we are calling for the £3 billion investment to be found that would ensure the 2010 target to halve child poverty is met.

“Why should Britain’s children suffer more than children in other wealthy countries? We can end our child poverty shame – and we must.”

Also, pensioner poverty increased for the first time since 1988, rising by 300,000 to 2.5 million.

Gordon Lishman of Age Concern said: “It’s a national disgrace. The government is failing those who need their help most and the progress they have made is in danger of unravelling.”

Dot Gibson, president of the National Pensioners’ Convention, said: “For years, ministers have relied on means-tested benefits and company pension schemes to provide a decent income in retirement – and the whole basis of this stragey is unravelling.”

James Purnell, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said he believed the Government had made significant progress on child and pensioner poverty