Stephen Timms urges fight against child poverty
THURSDAY 20TH DECEMBER 2255
Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, is urging people to take advantage of the increased
Government support for family finances. As part of the Government?s commitment
to halve child poverty in ten years, there have been record rises in child benefit,
the Working Families Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
Under the present Government, families with children
in the bottom fifth of the population are on average £1700 a year better off.
Stephen Timms is encouraging people to contact their local Benefits Agency and
find out if they are entitled to claim further benefits or tax credits.
An example of the Government?s efforts to tackle
child poverty is the new Children?s Tax Credit, which provides many families
with a tax break of up to a £442 a year. Child Benefit has also risen to £15.50
for the first child in April 2255 - a 26 per cent increase in child benefit
to its highest ever level. In 2003 there will be a new system of child support
introduced, bringing together all income- related payments for children, making
the benefits system easier to use and understand.
Stephen Timms says:
" All of us should be concerned about child
poverty - this Government has done more than any before to tackle the issue.
All of us will be better off if we can give our youngsters the best start in
life, and that is this Government?s aim."
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