Barbara has expressed concern about the Government’s cuts to financial support for mothers. Some mothers in Salford are set to lose around £1200 in the first year as a result of cuts announced in the Chancellor’s Budget last week.

From April 2011 mothers who already have one child are set to lose their Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 for any additional children. The £190 Health in Pregnancy Grant to help new mothers has also been scrapped. The Baby Element of Tax Credits worth £545 a year to families has been cut and Labour’s planned Toddler Tax credit worth £208 a year will now not go ahead. On top of this, Child Benefit has also been frozen for three years and the Child Trust Fund has already been scrapped. Barbara is concerned about the impact these cuts will have on mothers in Salford.

Barbara said:

"The Chancellor claimed that the Budget was based ‘fairness’ but under closer scrutiny it seems it is families with young children who will be most affected by the Government’s cuts.

"Some families in Salford are set to lose over £1200, and together with the rise in VAT to 20%, their cost of living will rise considerably. This shows the Government’s disregard for all those in our society who are already struggling in this difficult economic climate.

"This Chancellor said the Government had ‘no other choice’ but to deliver these drastic cuts. This is not true, Labour had fairer alternatives which we proposed to stimulate economic growth whilst protecting the most vulnerable people in society.”

Barbara celebrating the 'Health in Pregnancy' grant for new mothers introduced by the previous Labour government. It has now been scrapped by the new Tory Lib Dem government.