Child Poverty Bill

I thank the Minister for saying towards the close of his remarks that the Government will look at how to help the most disadvantaged children. Clearly, that lies behind the amendment and, I suspect, the amendment from the Liberal Democrats, which is due to follow. As the Minister said at the beginning, it is not the intention in the Bill to prioritise the children who are easier to help. The amendment has been tabled because there are disturbing signs that, in the past five or six years, that is precisely what has happened. With some of the hardest children to help, we have seen the levels of severe poverty apparently growing, according to Save the Children and the IFS. An amendment on those lines would be most helpful. I am extremely pleased that the Government are going to draw up something that captures the spirit of our amendment and, on that basis, I am on this occasion very pleased to beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 39 withdrawn. Amendment 40 Moved by