"While the banks have been bailed out with billions, most financial crisis meetings are not in the boardroom but around the kitchen tables of struggling families.
"Obama's economic advisers favour the evidence in support of putting money in the hands of the poor as effective fiscal stimulus. Gordon Brown's government must do so too.
"There is an urgent need for fiscal stimulus targeted to poor families in the Budget. The Chancellor can both keep the promise to halve child poverty, and put money directly into the hands of struggling families who will spend on essentials and boost their local economy."
