§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government have done to help support impoverished families with children. [124211]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Government have a PSA target to reduce by a quarter the number of children living in relative low-income households by 2004–05, as a contribution to its long-term goal to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020. The latest data show that by 2001–02 the Government were around half way to this target in half the time.
As a result of personal tax and benefit reforms introduced since 1997, from April 2003, on average, households with children in the poorest fifth of the population will be £2,500 better off a year in real terms compared to 1997. This includes the effect of the child tax credit, introduced in April this year. Combined with child benefit, the child tax credit delivers up to £54.10 a week in support for first child, compared to £27.70 a week in April 1997.