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The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr. Stephen Ladyman): The Highways Agencys business plan for 2007-08 is published today and contains eight key performance indicators for the Agency to deliver against by 31 March 2008. The indicators and associated targets are:
Explanatory notes against each of these indicators are provided in the business plan, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. John Hutton): Today I am publishing Working for Children (Cm:7067) which includes our response to recommendations made in the report Delivering on Child Poverty: what would it take? by Lisa Harker in November 2006. It is only one element of a cross-governmental child poverty strategy and sets out the additional measures DWP will take to maximise its contribution to the ambitious targets of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020.
Building on the announcements made in the Budget to take a further 200,000 children out of poverty by increasing tax credits and widen support for parents, Working for Children refocuses £150 million of resources within the Department for Work and Pensions towards greater support for families.
Piloting a New Deal for Families approach so more families get access to support that is often only available for lone parents. To do this we will extend support available in the New Deal for Lone Parents Plus pilot areas to all families with children in those areas.
Extending the New Deal for Lone Parents Plus scheme to help more lone parents benefit from this service and signalling initial support ahead of a period of consultation for recommendations from David Freud to increase obligations on lone parents with older children to look for work.
Providing more support to families, particularly in London where employment rates lag, including widening and improving the in-work credit scheme which provides additional financial support for lone parents as they make the transition to work.
Changing Jobcentre Plus systems so parents are properly identified in the benefit system for the first time and record the childcare needs and preferences of all parents - not just lone parents as at present.
Providing advice and support for the partners of parents claiming Jobseekers Allowance, with the introduction of mandatory six-monthly work-focused interviews for this group.
We have made significant progress by lifting 600,000 children out of relative poverty since the Prime Minister set the historic target in 1998 to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
Our success in helping people into work has been key to reducing child poverty. We have seen 2.5 million
more people in work than in 1997 and there are now over 1 million lone parents in employment. We need to continue to build on this success but recognise there is more to do if we are to reach our goal.
Copies of the report are available from the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. John Hutton): I am publishing today Households Below Average Income 1994-95 2005-06.
This is the 18th edition of the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. This report presents information on potential living standards in the United Kingdom as determined by disposable income in 2005-06, and changes in income patterns over time.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. James Plaskitt): I am pleased to announce the local authorities that have been chosen to pilot a sanction of Housing Benefit linked to anti-social behaviour. The sanction, contained in the Welfare Reform Bill (Clause 31), is part of the Respect programme and would apply where a household has been evicted for anti-social behaviour and subsequently refuses to engage with rehabilitation services offered. It will give local authorities an additional tool for tackling anti-social behaviour in order to achieve a culture of self-respect, respect for others and respect for community.
The intention is to pilot the scheme for a period of two years (subject to the Bill receiving Royal Assent) in the following local authorities:
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Blackpool Borough Council
Dover District Council
Manchester City Council
New Forest District Council
Newham London Borough Council
South Gloucestershire Council
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
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