MULHOLLAND GRILLS GOVERNMENT ON CHILD POVERTY

1.04.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 17th Jun 2009

Today in the work and pensions select committee hearing, Greg Mulholland MP for Leeds North West, grilled three Government ministers in a one-off evidence session on child poverty.

Greg asked if they were embarrassed that the UK had come 24th out of 29 European in a league table of child well being with only Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta below.

He also pointed out poorer children are still concentrated in poorer performing schools which leads to much lower educational attainment and more drop-outs.

Greg commented;

"After 12 years of a Labour Government the UK is 24th out of 29 European countries for child well being. Ministers should be embarrassed. The sad fact is that this Government has failed poorer children in education and it remains the case that the biggest factor in determining your life chances is your parents income. This must change."