HC Deb 29 March 2001 vol 365 c767W
22. Dr. Iddon

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the Working Families Tax Credit in reducing child poverty. [154621]

Dawn Primarolo

The introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, along with other changes to the tax and benefit system during this Parliament, will lift 1.2 million children out of relative poverty.

The personal tax and benefit measures introduced over this Parliament mean that by October 2001 families with children in the poorest fifth of the population will on average be £1,700 a year better off. These families include around 4 million children.

Largely as a result of the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, real living standards for a single-earner family on half average earnings and with two young children will rise by 28 per cent. over this Parliament.