A PROFESSOR is marking his 65th birthday by taking a hard look at Government policy.
Newcastle University professor John Veit-Wilson, is one of the country's leading experts in minimum income levels.
As a birthday treat, his colleagues have organised a half-day seminar on poverty and Government policy on minimum incomes, today.
Prof Veit-Wilson said he will state that more needs to be done to help out the region's poorer pensioners.
He said: "The Labour Government has committed itself to an attack on the poverty suffered by children and the elderly. The budget has taken this a step forward, although not far enough.
"This seminar looks at what the Government has achieved during its term of office and what ways the next Government should raise family and pensioner incomes as the principal weapon in combating poverty."
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