To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to lift children and families from below the poverty line. (134573)

The Treasury contributes to the strategy for halving and eradicating child poverty as set out in the Child Poverty Review, published alongside the 2004 Spending Review White Paper (Cm 6237). Across the UK, these measures have helped lift 600,000 children out of poverty since 1998-99.

Budget 2007 announced a package of further reforms to the tax and benefit system that will:

benefit families by an average of £200 per year;

benefit families in the poorest fifth of the population by an average of £350 per year; and

lift 200,000 children out of poverty.