30 March 2004 - 200,000 more children lifted out of poverty in one year – Smith
Work and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith today highlighted further progress in tackling child poverty as new figures showed 700,000 children have been lifted out of relative income poverty since 1996/97.
On publication of Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2002/03, Mr Smith said,
“We’re determined to win the war on poverty. Today’s figures show we’re doing that – with 200,000 children escaping income poverty in just one year.
“By getting parents into jobs, and then making sure that work pays – through tax credits and the minimum wage – we’ve put ourselves firmly on track to hit our target of cutting the number of poor children by one quarter by 2004/5.
“Between 1979 and 1997 the number of poor children more than doubled. Our target to turn this around is hugely ambitious: it means making poor children so much better off that they actually narrow the gap with average families, whose prosperity has increased rapidly in the last few years.
“The count of the very poorest children – who are in absolute poverty – has fallen even faster, and has now been halved since 1997. That’s 2.1 million fewer children growing up with their opportunities undermined by acute financial hardship.
“Using the same measure for pensioners, today’s figures also show excellent progress, with poverty now down by two-thirds on 1997. That means enhanced dignity and security for 1.8 million people during their retirement.
“The gap between the poorest pensioners and the average family is also down: there are now half a million fewer pensioners living in relative low income than in 1997.
“Our inheritance of mass poverty means that there is still a long way to go. But these figures show our measures have already made a real difference. The New Tax Credits and the Pension Credit bring important new gains for poorer families and pensioners, but both were introduced in 2003/4 so they are not captured in these statistics.”
Notes for editors
- The 2002/03 Households Below Average Incomes report is published by the Department for Work and Pensions. Press copies can be obtained by calling 020 7238 0866. It is also available at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/2004
- The absolute low income threshold is below 60% of median household income as of 1996/97, uprated by prices. The relative low income threshold is 60% of contemporary median household income.
- Figures in the Press Notice are on an After Housing Costs basis. The new figures also show a decline over the latest year for both children and pensioners, both in absolute and relative terms, on a Before Housing Costs basis.
For more information contact Nick Turton or Tracy Lee on 020 7238 0756/0725Press office: 020 7238 0866
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