§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department first announced plans to halve child poverty in 10 years and eradicate child poverty in 20 years; and when these targets are due to be met. [120238]
§ Mr. BayleyMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced our aim to end child poverty in 20 years in the Beveridge Lecture on 18 March 1999. Following this, we published "Opportunity for all" (Cm 4445, September 1999) placing tackling poverty and social exclusion at the heart of this Government's agenda. Reinforcing our commitment to ending child poverty, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced our ambition to halve child poverty "by the end of the next decade" in his 1999 Pre-Budget Report.