General Chat

Just playing devils advocate here but maybe the prepared fruit was in the discount bin at the supermarket, just because the child had it doesn't mean the parents are being frivolous with their income. Surely the parents deserve some credit for giving the child fruit instead of crisps or fatty/sugar filled snacks.

Thanks.

I have not a clue about 'top ups' via benefits but believe Council Tax, housing benefit etc., can be claimed.

If the benefit system truly worked then those that play the system are depriving those in need through fraudulent claims and should be punished. I rather suspect we all know some of these swines who work on the side and shouldn't be entitled to help. It galls me no end :-(

The UK is supposed to be the 6th richest nation in the world. I see money wasted on 'nice statues' trying to rebuild a heap of stones by CADW in order to preserve something that hasn't existed for 100s of years.

I'd rather see the money put into decent social housing.

Sue, from Barnardo's site

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/
our_projects/child_poverty/child_poverty_what_is_poverty.htm

"What is child poverty?
A family with two adults and two children needs to have £352 each week in order to be above the poverty line"

"£13 a day – the reality of living in poverty
Many families living on a low income have only about £13 per day per person.

This needs to cover:

•all of their day to day expenditure, including necessities such as food and transport
•occasional items such as new shoes and clothes, school trips and activities for children, and replacing broken household items such as washing machines and kitchen equipment
•all household bills such as electricity, gas and water, telephone bills, and TV licences."

There's a graph linked from that page, it's 2009 but probably not far out from todays figures?

When I read/hear the words 'child poverty' I always imagine the definition as it was applied in the 19th and early 20th centuries. No shoes, no clothes to speak of, no food, no heat, overcrowded slums, little education, rife killer diseases.

I have no idea what defines child poverty in 2011 but if anyone can tell me I'd be grateful.

Not sure,what it icluded,Kay but i just thought for somebody stuggling,why pay over the odds for fruit.

Is this without child benifits? if so its not a great deal taking into account bills such as watergas/electricty....any television licence which must eat into a fair bit per week/month.

Just been on the news about one family/4 kids who are struggling to live of her £108 per wk benefits. One of the kids was eating a tub of ready prepared fresh fruit,not that short of cash then lol

Marion