Child Poverty targets unreachable?

Today I visited the pilot project of the company GEM Gas Conversion- (Graveson Energy Management) based in Port Talbot that have developed a conversion system that enables the recovery of energy from a wide selection of materials that are considered as waste. It identifies wasted resources as valuable fuel, utilises fuel by converting it into synthetic gas which is produced as a replacement for natural gas, which in due course generates renewable electricity and heat. I found the visit to be very interesting, especially in light of our aim in Wales to cut our carbon footprint, and to recycle. This pilot project is also important to recognise in relation to the new landfill tax, and an attempt by the Government to cut waste sent to landfill. Of course, companies that wouldn't have thought twice about sending waste to landfill now have to reconsider their options, and GEM are offering that alternative.

The only hurdle at the moment is that their company is relatively small, and they have not as yet succeeded in encouraging businesses and Local Authorities in Wales to take up this new renewable way of creating energy from waste. They have a pilot plant in Port Talbot, and in a few months time, a DEFRA presentation in Scarborough, but they are now seeking to raise their profile in order to influence people such as Jane Davidson and Ieuan Wyn Jones who could offer them a future for their business in Wales. In the Netherlands, this system is the norm, but I think that we have a long way to go in Wales to educate people( and our Politicians) about new ways of working in this sector.

Tomorrow I am reacting to the Social Justice's Statement of Child Poverty in Wales. I do fear that in light of the Treasury committee report, and the latest Joseph Rowntree report on this issue that Westminster's targets will not be met, and neither will ours here in Wales. It looks increasingly likely that our efforts are in danger of being undermined by a Labour Government in London that lacks the political will to provide a clear road map and redistribute sufficient wealth to reach both 2010 and 2020 targets.

The Welsh Assembly Government is trying to initiate new ideas for addressing this issue within areas of devolved responsibility- the draft budget includes substantial extra investment for universal affordable childcare, a major Plaid election commitment, and a key mechanism identified by anti child poverty campaigners.

However, we are just not seeing the same sense of purpose from the London Government. The Treasury Select Committee report makes very worrying reading and confirms many of our fears. As the report says the recent Comprehensive Spending Review fails to provide a clear indication of how the 2010 target is going to be met. Put together with the Pre Budget Report in which only 48p extra a week was awarded to the poorest children, it is easy to understand why the London Government is being accused of running out of steam in this instance.