Child Poverty Bill

My Lords, I thank my old friend the Minister for summarising so effectively the issues concerned in the amendments. I will speak to Amendments 45 and 46, which address the definition of the word "parent". I am very pleased: this issue has run for a long time and this is a momentous occasion. I thank all those who fought for recognition of the status of family and friends carers, many of whom are in your Lordships’ House today. It has been most encouraging that the support has been cross-party. On occasion, it has been very moving. I also thank the organisations that have been determined to continue supporting the issue: the Family Rights Group, Grandparents Plus and the Kinship Care Alliance. I assure the Minister that these associations have e-mailed, telephoned and written to me to say how delighted they are that at last this has happened. The amendments will mean that vulnerable children and carers are included in data collection and in consideration of the relevant services. I thank in particular the Minister and the noble Baroness, Lady Crawley, for all the hard work that they have put in to clarify the situation. I also thank the members of the ministerial team, who have had a very difficult job. The situation is now clear, which is much appreciated. I know that there is still some way to go, but Amendments 45 and 46 are an important move in a positive direction. We all owe the Minister a huge vote of thanks.