HC Deb 17 October 1991 vol 196 cc427-8
5. Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss the effects of the Government's economic policies on child poverty.

Mr. Maples

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the CPAG in June 1990.

Mr. Davies

Is the Minister familiar with the report of the Select Committee on Social Security which says that more than 3 million children in the United Kingdom are now living in conditions of poverty? Will he confirm that the level of child benefit in relation to earnings is now lower than at any time since 1948? When he next meets the Child Poverty Action Group, will he consider seriously its advice that an immediate substantial increase in child benefit is needed to offset the worst consequences of his economic policies on those who are most vulnerable?

Mr. Maples

It may interest the hon. Gentleman to know that when my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced the increase in child benefit in the Budget the CPAG wrote congratulating him, saying how pleased it was with the increase.

The statistics on the number of people living in poverty are, as the hon. Gentleman knows, completely meaningless as they rely on a totally artificial definition of poverty—[Interruption.] I did not say that there was no poverty, but that the figures on how many people live in poverty are artificial. They rely on taking a notional percentage of income and saying that everyone below that level lives in poverty. As the hon. Gentleman knows, that is not so. Under this Government, real incomes have risen at all levels and the incomes of the poorest 10 per cent. of households have risen by 9½ per cent.

Mr. Rupert Allason

When my hon. Friend next meets the Child Poverty Action Group, will he discuss the role of legislation in relation to accounts submitted by politically motivated charities? Is he aware that for the past 10 years Christian Aid has not submitted full accounts and that there is grave disquiet about the performance of Oxfam?

Mr. Speaker

That is a little wide of the Child Poverty Action Group.

Mr. Allason

Will my hon. Friend ensure that the CPAG submits full accounts for the current year and for subsequent years?

Mr. Maples

My hon. Friend raises an interesting point. The whole question of charities' accounts is being considered.