§ Mrs. LawrenceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's strategy for tackling child poverty. [23530]
§ Mr. Gordon BrownAs I said at the Treasury Committee hearing on 11 December, I am today publishing a pre-Budget report document on child poverty, "Tackling Child Poverty—giving every child the best possible start in life", which will inform next year's Budget and Spending Review 2002.
The Government's strategy involves:
- helping to ensuring a decent family income, with work for those who can and support for those who cannot;
- delivering excellent public services for all neighbourhoods and targeted interventions for those with additional needs;
- supporting parents so that they can provide better support for their children; and
- harnessing the power and expertise of the voluntary and community sectors, providing support for innovation and good practice and building strategic partnerships with these sectors to fight child poverty.
Copies of the document have been deposited in the Library of the House and are also available in the Vote Office.