Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the freeze in child benefit and child tax credits on child poverty in the past seven years.

The proportion of people in absolute poverty is at record lows. Since 2010 there are 600,000 fewer people in absolute poverty, including 200,000 fewer children. Work is the most effective way out of poverty and unemployment has not been lower since 1975. From 2008 to 2015, average earnings grew by 12%, whereas most working-age benefits increased by 21%.