Families with Children: Government Policy

HL Deb 03 March 2003 vol 645 cc82-3WA

Baroness Cox

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they regard a couple with three or more children as a large family; and whether the United Kingdom has an unofficial two-child policy. [HL1718]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government have no plans to offer financial or other incentives to couples who have a certain number of children.

The Government are committed to giving all the nation's children the best start in life and have thus increased financial support for families with children through increased child benefit and the introduction of the integrated child tax credit. The Government's approach is based on providing support for all families with children, combined with offering more help to those who need it most, when they need it most. This includes families on lower incomes, those with children under one and parents of disabled children. Similarly, families with more children are eligible for more support.

The Government provide more financial support for the first child through child benefit and, from this April, through the family element of the child tax credit.