§ Mr. JackTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 29 March 1999,Official Report, column 496, to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), if he will publish his definition of child poverty. [79811]
§ The Prime MinisterChild poverty is complex and can be defined in a number of ways. Below half average income is used by some as a proxy for those living in poverty, and using that proxy the last two budgets will lift 700,000 children out of poverty. But we are past the definition debate; we are tackling the causes of poverty. The most important priority is to understand and tackle the factors that damage the life opportunities of our children.