With the images coming out of Iraq of children fighting for food and the memories of footage shown on Comic Relief recently, I am puzzled when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, in his speech last Wednesday, speaks of ending child poverty in this country.

Is it right to use the same phrase? Do we see children in landfill sites looking for food or sleeping in tin huts?

Yes, there are people who are on income support or earn a low wage but does anyone ever say "my children live in poverty"?

There are areas of the country that are run-down and of course unemployment means money is tight and, unfortunately, children do suffer by having to go without certain things.

But isn't that normally explained by stars on these charity events as "underprivileged" or "less fortunate" than others?

When talking about this country, the word "poverty" is never used. With all the benefits available in the society we live in, are there starving, thirsty children roaming the streets?

-D Callaway, Henfield