§ Mr. Kevin HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the latest figures on Households Below Average Incomes to be published; and if he will make a statement. [4583]
§ Mr. DarlingToday I have published Households Below Average Income for 1994–95 to 1999–2000. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The report shows the position during the financial year 1999–2000. Consequently, it does not reflect the full impact of all policies or the changes introduced since—for instance the significant increases made to Working Families Tax Credit and Income Support child rates in Budget 2000, the Children's Tax Credit or enhancements to the Minimum Income Guarantee.
However the report shows encouraging signs that Government anti-poverty measures are beginning to work. There is a real downward trend in child poverty with 300,000 fewer children living in income poverty in 1999–2000 compared with 1996–97 and there are encouraging signs of improvement in pensioner incomes with the figures suggesting 100,000 fewer in poverty.
It shows that all groups have shared a significant growth in income, there has been a large fall in the numbers below absolute low-income thresholds and the tide has been turned in the long-term trend of rising relative income poverty for children.