To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the child population in Northern Ireland was lifted out of poverty in each of the last five years; and what steps he is taking to increase the rate of uplift. (107627)

Data on child poverty is available only for the years 2002-03; 2003-04;2004-05. Between the first and second years the proportion of the child population in poverty remained the same. On the same measure between 2003-04 and 2004-05 there was a decrease of 2.5 per cent. this equates to around 11,000 children.

‘Lifetime Opportunities’ Governments Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy, launched on 13 November includes a commitment to reducing child poverty by half by 2010 with a view to eradicating child poverty by 2020. Here this means lifting 65,000 children out of poverty by 2010, on the way to eradication by 2020.

A copy of Lifetime Opportunities has been placed in the House of Commons Library.