HC Deb 07 February 2000 vol 344 c55W
25. Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking with other Government Departments to meet the Government's objective of eliminating child poverty. [107213]

Mr. Bayley

We are making real progress in tackling poverty. We are the first Government to be committed to eradicating child poverty in a generation, and halving it within 10 years.

In all, we will provide an additional £6 billion a year in new tax and benefit measures for families with children by the end of this parliament. 800,000 children will be lifted above half average income through measures in the last two Budgets. All families will be, on average, £740 a year better off.

Later this year we will be publishing our second annual report on tackling poverty and social exclusion, monitoring progress so far.