Local MP lends weight to Shelter's 'Million Children Campaign'

24.3.05

Speaking at a conference organised by Shelter, Edward Davey MP has reaffirmed his commitment to the 'Million Children Campaign' that seeks to highlight the plight of children 'growing up in overcrowded, unfit or emergency housing'.

The campaign is backed by research pointing to the fact that children who grow up in poor quality housing 'suffer from serious health problems, poor education and have their future blighted'. The formative years are widely acknowledged to be of crucial importance in affecting life chances, and this research shows that poor quality housing has a large impact in this area.

Commenting, Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, said,

"This problem is something that should worry everyone. One million children in sub-standard housing is an indictment on the society in which we live. It also lies at the root of many social ills, and consequently, is something which we would all benefit from eliminating."

"I have signed a Parliamentary motion which wholeheartedly welcomes Shelter's campaign. The large scale - and cross-party - support that it achieved was very encouraging.

"It is time that the Government addressed the housing crisis affecting this country, and the social problems that trail in its wake."

The text of EDM 267 is as follows:
That this House notes that, according to official statistics, over one million children in Britain are homeless or in housing which is either overcrowded or unfit for human habitation; notes that all the available research indicates that this can have devastating effects on their health, education and future prospects; and welcomes Shelter's Million Children campaign, highlighting the plight of these children and supports its call to end bad housing for the next generation of children.