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Social Security

First, I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on the recent birth of his child. I am delighted that he was able to take up the opportunities that I described. Jobseeker’s allowance is going up in line with Rossi, as I announced earlier. Of course, the hon. Gentleman is right that we need a good balance of rights and responsibilities. That approach is reflected in our changes and in the developments in the new deal, which are a good example of precisely the kind of balance that he is looking for. That is why I expressed the hope that his party might come to support the new deal before too long. It represents exactly the approach that he advocated. We have lifted more than 500,000 children out of relative low income since 1997. Tax credits are benefiting 20 million people, including more than 10 million children. The child tax credit, which will increase by earnings, benefits 6 million families. From April, the child allowance, the family premium, the disabled child premium and the enhanced disability premium for a child will all increase, which will directly benefit the least well-off families. Last week, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that he has asked Sir David Henshaw completely to redesign our system of child support. My right hon. Friend announced additional investment up to £120 million to stabilise and improve the performance of the Child Support Agency in the short term. By 2008 we will improve compliance rates, ensure that 200,000 more children benefit from maintenance payments, be on track to help lift an additional 40,000 children out of poverty and see a significant increase in the number of parents who receive the child maintenance premium. As my right hon. Friend made clear, Members will have the opportunity to make their views known to Sir David and his team and I hope that they will do so.