HC Deb 22 March 2000 vol 346 cc969-70
10. Mr. Alan W. Williams (East Carmarthen and Dinefwr)

If he will make a statement on the level of child poverty in Wales. [114271]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. David Hanson)

The joint ministerial committee on poverty has agreed to future joint working between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations to tackle poverty across the UK.

The National Assembly for Wales has set up a social exclusion unit to look at poverty issues and will promote effective joint working to combat family poverty and social exclusion in Wales.

Mr. Williams

Does my hon. Friend welcome the increase announced in yesterday's Budget of 20 per cent. in the children's tax credit, which is part of the working families tax credit? The children's tax credit has been raised by £4.35 to £25.16 a week. Is not that an excellent way to tackle child poverty, and make work pay?

Mr. Hanson

I certainly believe that the working families tax credit is a valuable benefit for people in Wales. About 75,000 working families in Wales will benefit from the provision, and the increases will be most beneficial for people on low incomes and for those who suffer poverty. Coupled with the biggest-ever rises in child benefit which this Government have introduced, some 335,000 people will benefit from child benefit increases in Wales. That is good news for people in Wales, and helps us to meet our targets of tackling poverty and halving child poverty in the next 20 years.

Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East)

What does it do for child poverty in Cardiff when the Labour leader of Cardiff council awards himself £58,000 a year for a three-day week? The council tax payers in Cardiff have to pay 10 per cent. more to finance that salary.

Mr. Hanson

No amount of spurious fluff from the hon. Gentleman will hide the fact that the Conservative party opposed the working families tax credit and would never have introduced the increases in child benefit. The long-term child poverty that this Government have to tackle is the result of 20 years of Conservative government.

I have explained to the House the position regarding Cardiff city council. The hon. Gentleman knows that the Government will tackle child poverty, and that the Conservative party would not.