Child Poverty Bill

Looking at how we go forward is, in part, based on understanding where we have got to now and where we have not got to—perhaps where we were hoping to have made greater progress. A process is under way through the development of the strategy and the strategic direction paper to do what the noble Lord wants. The key objection to the amendment is that it forces a particular process over a three-month period when we will not have key data that would make analysis of progress towards reaching a particular target better and more meaningful. Certainly we have to look at progress and analyse that. That is what the strategic direction paper and the strategies that flow from it will entail. The noble Lord also said that this was all to do with moving away from investing in benefits. Income transfers are part of the solution, but what we have also learnt recently is that they are only part of the solution. There are other issues such as promoting work as the best means out of poverty, supporting family relationships and family life, early interventions, excellence in delivery, sustainability and affordability. All are part of a package to make progress. I also say to the noble Lord that three months is premature to look at the 2010 target because we have had provisions post the 2007 Budget. Many of them relate to income transfers and benefits and are designed to improve the position. They have not flowed through into the data yet. We need to see how that works in practice. Therefore we are not apart in recognising the need to understand the lessons of the past in building for the future; the issue is the mechanism by which, and timeframe within which, we do it.