Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with external organisations on the effect of the Autumn Statement 2016 on child poverty.

This Government is committed to tackling the root causes of disadvantage and poverty, and not just the symptoms. The Government have introduced two new measures that will drive real action on worklessness and educational attainment – the two areas that we know can make the biggest difference to disadvantaged children and their families. The Government will publish a report on these measures by March 2017.

HM Treasury ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

The Government continues to perform all its legal duties with respect to equalities.