POVERTY campaigners in Wales made a stinging attack on the devolved government’s child poverty strategy today.

The Bevan Foundation and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales both criticised the Welsh government’s draft child poverty strategy, which is currently out for consultation.

Children’s Commissioner Rocio Cifuentes said: “The Welsh government must comprehensively revise their draft strategy. 

“It does not match the gravity of the situation facing children and young people in Wales today. 

“It lacks ambition and, most importantly, the strategy must be accompanied by a comprehensive action plan and monitoring framework which sets out targets and measurable outcomes.

“It is not currently clear at all how any of the draft strategy will translate into tangible actions and how or when they would be delivered.”

Figures from the Bevan Foundation show that there are 180,000 children in poverty in Wales, living with 150,000 adults in poverty.

While the foundation described the strategy as a welcome step, it too expressed concern that it did not go far enough in tackling child poverty.

The Bevan Foundation’s Steffan Evans said: “We believe that there is scope for the strategy to go further, however, both in terms of its ambition and in terms of the actions set out within it. 

“The Welsh government are, by legislation, required to have a strategy to eradicate poverty and the strategy, as currently drafted, falls short of this objective. 

“It is vital that any strategy focuses on high-impact objectives that are designed to boost incomes, cut costs, create pathways out of poverty for children and to end stigma.”

In response to the criticism, a Welsh government spokesperson said: “We are committed to addressing child poverty as an absolute priority and continue to work together with our partners towards a Wales where every child, young person and family can prosper.

“More than 3,000 children, young people, families and organisations have engaged in the development of the revised child poverty strategy.

“This has helped us to focus on where our policies can make the biggest difference and identify priority areas where we will accelerate action.

“However, the major levers for tackling poverty, such as welfare benefits and many fiscal powers, sit in Westminster.”