The children's minister has challenged an international think-tank's condemnation of government spending on children and young people. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said the UK should invest more money on children in the first six years of their lives to reduce social inequality and help all children, especially the most vulnerable, have happier lives. It claimed one-third of UK children aged between 13 and 15 have abused alcohol, the highest in its study of 30 countries. An OECD spokesman said: ‘There have been some moves in this direction in the United Kingdom in recent years, and these are to be encouraged. But more could be done. ‘Equally, the United Kingdom Government should ensure that current high rates of spending on older children are much more effective in meeting the needs of the disadvantaged among them.' Children's minister, Dawn Primarolo, challenged the findings. ‘It is disappointing to see the UK rated so low for risky behaviours,' she said. ‘Over the last 10 years, we have made much progress to tackle under-investment and low aspirations in early years, schools, colleges and other children's services.'
