§ Mike GapesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce poverty in the United Kingdom. [35758]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThis Government are committed to abolishing child poverty within a generation and halving it by 2010. A strategy document entitled "Tackling child poverty: giving every child the best possible start in life" was published in December 2001. This document will inform the Budget and Spending Review 2002.
As a result of personal tax and benefit changes announced in the last Parliament, there are now 1.2 million fewer children in poverty than there would otherwise have been. A new tax credit for families with children—the child tax credit—will be introduced for children from April 2003 building on the foundation of universal child benefit. But child poverty is not only about incomes, it is also about inadequate service provision. The Government have made substantial new investments in this area. From 2000–01—2003–04, average real-terms annual growth in spending on education and training in England will be over 5.5 per cent. In addition, extra funds have been made available for Sure Start, Neighbourhood Renewal and the Children's Fund.