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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Treasury to establish a minimum income standard which includes targeted support to meet the costs of caring for a disabled child. [96312] Maria Eagle: DWP Ministers meet with ministerial colleagues regularly to discuss issues related to the alleviation of child poverty. They attend the Ministerial Group on Children and Young People (MISC9) and the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty, both of which address child poverty issues. We do recognise that disabled children, and their families, have additional needs. We are committed to helping severely disabled people with the extra costs they face as a result of their disabilities. In April 2002 the disabled child premium was increased by £5 a week on top of the normal uprating, to £35.50. In April 2003, it will rise again by £5 above inflation, to more than £40 a week on top of basic Income Support or tax credits. In addition, the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance was extended to three- and four-year-olds in April 2001, providing an extra £39.30 a week to those families. A full analysis of our strategy to eradicate child poverty is given in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. "Opportunity for all--fourth annual report" (CM 5598) was published in September 2002. It reports on a range of outcome indicators covering many dimensions of poverty and social exclusion.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

399 c799W;399 c797W; 96312

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Poverty Disability Children Income support Income Social security benefits Standard of living

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk