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DWP reports poverty progress
10/03/2006 17:53:00
Thousands of people have been lifted out of poverty every year since 1997, according to new statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The government's policies for reducing poverty have led to a drop of 2.4 million people in poverty since 1997 and a 50 per cent drop in absolute poverty for children.
There has been a particular focus on the very needy such as pensioners and children in government policy.
Secretary of State John Hutton said: "These independently produced statistics show we have made great strides in cutting the numbers of people living below the poverty line.
"The level of child poverty in Britain was the worst in Europe. Now child poverty is falling faster than in any other European country."
However, despite the significant decreases the government's original target for reducing child poverty was still missed by 300,000.
Yet the government still sees itself on track to meet the target of eliminating child poverty by 2020. Minister Margaret Hodge said that the government must "redouble its efforts" if it were to succeed with the target.
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