[UK] UUP leader's plea over poverty

From UTV Live

Northern Ireland is seriously lagging behind Scotland and Wales in fighting for a coherent anti-poverty strategy, it was claimed today.

With more and more despairing families living below the breadline with little hope for the future, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey called for a local administration to provide much needed direction and vision to deal with the growing plight.

He said: "The reality for too many in Northern Ireland is a lack of opportunity and the daily grind of poverty. This is what is being faced by increasing numbers of our older people who have given much over a lifetime to their communities and societies."

He added: "Too many of our children have early years blighted by exclusion, instead of lives full of promise. Too many families have below standard housing, or no house at all, when they should have the security of a decent home."

His call for action came as he outlined the party`s anti-poverty policy which has been detailed in a special pamphlet.

According to Government figures, a third of Northern Ireland`s children, 108,100 live in poverty while the number of pensioners suffering unacceptable conditions has now reached 47,100.

One third of households experience fuel poverty, nearly four times higher than in England, while homelessness is at its highest level since the early 1980`s.

The Scottish and Welsh national assemblies have taken action to deal with the crisis, but under direct rule Northern Ireland is lagging behind the devolved administrations in Edinburgh and Cardiff in terms of providing a coherent strategic direction and vision.

Sir Reg`s North Belfast MLA colleague Fred Cobain, whose constituency is among the worst hit by social depravation and disadvantage said the party was committed to working with the voluntary and community sectors to offer hope.

He said: "We want to ensure that any future local administration combats child and pensioner poverty, fuel poverty and homelessness - and helps to build fair and decent communities for all of us."