Given the tight position of the public finances and the global economic slowdown this was never going to be a Budget for big giveaways. In this context the fact that the Government was able to find an extra £1 billion to help reduce child poverty over the next three years – through increases in Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit, and changes to Housing and Council Tax Benefit – mean that they are getting back on track. But with half of all poor children living in a working family, the Government still needs to do more to ensure that work not only pays more than benefits but guarantees a decent, poverty free, standard of living.
This was a green-tinged Budget rather than a thoroughbred “Green Budget”. The Chancellor’s environmental ambitions for the future need to be better matched with actions for today.
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