THE poorest people in the country are being made to pay for the Government's crackdown on fraud, according to a Blackburn councillor.

Jack Bury has criticised the Conservatives for phasing out extra payments made to single parents living on income support.

The borough and county councillor also claimed the Government are unfairly targeting the most vulnerable in society.

The Higher Croft councillor was speaking in his role as chairman of social services for the Association of County Councils.

The criticism came after it was announced in Parliament that fraud busters have saved £2.5 million in Accrington and Darwen in just six months. Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans praised the Benefits Agency workers in East Lancashire, and slammed the fraudsters.

But Jack Bury said: "Single people already suffer enough from poverty.

"All the Government has done today is add to the misery suffered by single parents by taking money away from their children.

"As a result more children could have their development hindered, end up in care or at risk."

The councillor added: "It is quite wrong of the Chancellor to target poor people for benefit cuts.

"Single parents struggling to survive, to find work and childcare have enough problems.

"The last thing they need is for the Government to cut their already insufficient incomes."

Councillor Bury finished: "Councils will not be able to pick up the slack. They can provide social care, housing and other services but they are not income maintenance bodies.

"They will have enough challenges trying to provide social care as it without a significant increase in the local government finance settlement."

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