Budget Failing Women
21 April 2009
The Women's Budget Group (WBG) is disappointed that once again the government that introduced the Gender Equality Duty failed to provide any explicit gender analysis of its Budget. This budget was not developed with the impact on women in mind. As women make up half the electorate, disproportionately live in poverty, and provide most of the care of children and the elderly, this must change.
The WBG welcomes the Budget's increases in support of carers and grandparents providing childcare. The WBG highlighted this issue in their research on women and poverty and is happy to see their recommendations partially incorporated into this year's Budget. We hope that this is just a first step in recognising the contribution that unpaid carers, and grandmothers in particular make.
”The Chancellor was right to cut tax allowances and increase rates for high earners. However, he has failed to do enough to help women on low incomes and the public spending cuts will have serious results for women, especially for mothers and carers” said a WBG spokesperson.
“Low income mothers, who manage poverty and act as shock absorbers to protect their children from its worst effects, will bear the burden of the Government's shameful failure to meet its own child poverty target”.
Although the group welcomes the Hardship fund they believe the £20 million promised falls short of the resources needed to secure a sustainable third sector. It will be particularly inadequate support to organisations that work with women, which are seriously under-resourced and will have increased demands on their services in the recession. Research by the Women’s Resource Centre clearly shows that these organisations are providing critical support and services to women affected by violence, discrimination, poverty, hardship, homelessness, worklessness and social isolation.
Notes to editors
- WBG is a think tank of academics and activists that works to promote gender equality through appropriate economic policy
- Within the entire budget document the word women is mentioned only twice - in relation to the pension credit for people with caring responsibilities (p.107) and in regard to health in pregnancy grant (p. 97). Gender is not mentioned at all. This would indicate the Treasury’s need to carry out a gender impact analysis of all policy initiatives under the gender duty.
- For more information, please contact Hilde Roren at 07726629519
- The comments in this release represent the views of the Women’s Budget Group and do not necessarily reflect the views of members.
- Find out more about the Women’s Budget Group on our website, www.wbg.org.uk.