Family Support (Hansard, 9 May 2000)

§ Angela Eagle

We are committed to giving children the best possible start. Measures announced so far in this Parliament will help lift 1.2 million children out of poverty, and are a major step in achieving our commitment to eradicating child poverty. Measures since 1 May 1997 includeChild Benefit (CHB)—36 per cent. increase in rate for eldest child. Further above-inflation rise April 2000: standard rate CHB £15 for eldest child, £10 for other children. Income-related benefits—child allowance for under-11s up by £4.70 from last October. New allowance for children aged 0-16 now £26.60. Support for children under 11 in the income-related benefits up by over 50 per cent. in two years. Sure Start Maternity Grant—April 2000: payments double from £100 to £200, and to £300 from this autumn. Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC)—extra help for low-income working families. Includes new allowance for disabled children, extra £21.90 on top of other child allowances, and from June, a £4.35 increase in under-16 child credit (Income Support/Jobseeker's Allowance/Housing Benefits child allowance increase from October). Childcare Tax Credit—part of WFTC, 70 per cent. of eligible child care costs up to a maximum of £100 for one child, £150 for two or more. Children's Tax Credit—April 2001, new Tax Credit, worth up to £442 a year. Integrated Child Credit—from 2003, will bring together different strands of help for children currently contained in benefits and tax system.

In all, we will provide an additional £7 billion a year in new tax and benefit measures for families with children by the end of this Parliament. By April 2001, as a result of budget changes to personal tax and benefits, families with children will be, on average, £850 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.