LEVEL OF CHILD BENEFIT

That this House recognises the improved support for all families, reduction in child poverty and progress towards the Government's commitment to end child poverty by 2020 which would be achieved by increases to child benefit; notes that child benefit is currently £17.45 per week for a first child, but just £11.40 per week for subsequent children; further notes that equalising child benefit for all children at the current first child rate would lift at least 250,000 children out of poverty at a cost of £1.7 billion; and urges the Government to consider raising child benefit and increasing the rate paid for second and subsequent children to that received for the first eligible child as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2007.