Jul/090
Save the Children: Child Poverty on the Increase
As you would expect, over a half of children living in poverty in the UK live in either single-parent households or homes were neither parent is employed.
Save the Children (a well respected organisation protecting UK kids) carried out research which shows that almost 200,000 more under 16’s across the nation live in poverty compared to this time last year.
According to the organistation, a rise in children residing in ‘unemployed homes’ has taken place in recent years on an unprecedented scale. This has no doubt been compounded by the fact that we are in the middle of a deep recession but nevertheless the figures look particularly bleak especially when compared to an earlier similar period.
Out of all the UK countries, Wales is experiencing the worst problems. Bridgend, Flintshire, Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire are the areas pinpointed by Save the Children as the main culprates.
The choices between food, heating and transport costs that these families need to make is a tough one which is putting pressure on their lifestyles to change.
Jul/091
Important! Tax Credits Deadline Approaches
As the Friday 31st July approaches, claimants of all types of tax credits could soon be facing a further financial blow in the credit crunch. If consumers do not apply for their credits then they could face huge reductions in income when HMRC get around to recalling their overpayment.
UK pensioners - many of whom are struggling because of their pensions deteriorating in the credit crunch - are worrying over the prospect of facing further cuts to their weekly income through tax credits. However, pensioners do not have to renew by the end of this month so worry not. This would have otherwise affected over 3 million pensioners throughout the country.
Jul/090
Ban on IVF donors leads to shortage of eggs
A review in the sale of sperm and eggs for use in fertilisation treatment has arisen in the attempt to increase donations. Currently many childless couples are forced to seek treatment abroad due to a shortage in donations. Lisa Jardine, of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority suggests an increase in the expenses payment of £250 to donors to encourage women to donate their eggs. Furthermore the loss of anonymity of sperm donors was also highlighted as having a possible negative effect.
Concerns have been raised as to the exploitation of poorer women donating eggs to raise money if a higher rate is set. However Jardine argues that the higher rate should exist for women donating their eggs as the procedure is more invasive than sperm donation. Although it is generally agreed that the sale of eggs and sperm raises a number of ethical questions Jardine believes it would create a more transparent system. The authority is also set to discuss the guidelines surrounding donations within a family.
One such case was that of a 72-year-old man who donated his sperm to his daughter-in-law and the rules with regards to brother and sister donations.
Jul/090
Local Governement: One in Five Local Authorities Report Growing Pressure on School Places
There are a few reasons for this but the recession seems to be the cause of most of them.
1) Parents are turning their backs on private education for their children, choosing instead to use the money they have saved up as a contingency for bills and general living costs.
2) The housing market slump has meant less people are moving house meaning a miscalculation in the size of the catchement area.
As a result, the government has announced that they are to throw £200m into the education kitty to combat this shortage. The government is set to announce £200m to overcome the shortage of places as well as a sharp rise in free school meal requests.
The LGA’s survey indicates that that 20% of councils are experiencing this pressure currently and another 13% are advising that they too will soon be experiencing the same situation.
Jun/090
Pregnant Women Receiving Child Benefit?
The Government have launched a £60million scheme to help ‘mothers-to-be’. The scheme called “Sure Start” is set to help mothers with health advice and support when baby is born. And now the Government are thinking about paying child benefit for pregnant women after their 12 week scan.
Research has shown that heavier born babies are usually cleverer and achieve more than those who are born with a low weight, and that low weight babies were more susceptible to illness later on in life.
By paying expectant mothers from their 12 week scan onwards the Government is hoping to promote healthy, balanced children and parents.
Jun/090
Child Benefit going abroad
Research shows that more and more East Europeans are receiving British Benefits, even when they are in their own country.
It is estimated that over £1million a month, of taxpayer’s money, in child benefits are going to mothers in countries like Poland. This has obviously riled the British and caused a lot of controversy over Britons paying for children who live in another country, and are highly unlikely to ever so much as visit Britain. Also, these benefits are handed out without even checking to see if the children being claimed for exist.
This is because if one of the parents is working in Britain it means that the family are entitled to benefits such as child benefits and family tax credits. Also, British Benefits are substantially higher than in Eastern Europe. Obviously, this is attracting more and more migrant workers into Britain. This and the fact that it is advertised in the Polish papers sold abroad and in Britain how easy it is to get British Benefits.
Many Poles get work through Employment agencies who have migrants on their books. These agencies advise them on how to claim benefits, and what they are entitled to. So is it any wonder that more and more British jobs are going to migrants? How ridiculous!
Jun/090
Flat-rate Child Benefits Coming to an End?
MOST people want an end to universal flat-rate child benefits.
An NOP poll on the public services, conducted for the Independent and BBC-TV’s Newsnight, finds that only 35 per cent want to keep universal flat-rate child benefits; almost twice as many, 60 per cent, think better-off families should receive less than they do today.
However, the poll, designed to examine public attitudes to options facing ministers as the Tory conference starts, finds that the principle of a universal basic state pension still commands wide support.
Fifty-four per cent think the same basic pensions should be paid to all retired people; 43 per cent think the Government should reduce pensions for the better-off.
Jun/090
Child Benefit Data Goes Missing
UK’s families put on fraud alert Two computer discs holding the personal details of all families in the UK with a child under 16 have gone missing.
The Child Benefit data on them includes name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number and, where relevant, bank details of 25 million people.
Chancellor Alistair Darling said there was no evidence the data had gone to criminals - but urged people to monitor bank accounts “for unusual activity”.
The Conservatives described the incident as a catastrophic” failure.
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