CHILD POVERTY IN LONDON AND BLACK AND ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES

That this House recognises the results of the Institute for Social and Economic Research's recent report into child poverty in London which finds that the high level of child poverty in London will have adverse affects on the Government's child poverty targets; notes that at present black and ethnic minority communities in London are disproportionately affected by social exclusion and poverty; further notes that the report estimates that removing current disparities in parental unemployment rates between white and black and ethnic minority populations in London would reduce child poverty rates by 4.5 per cent.; and calls on the Government to bring child benefit for the second and subsequent children up to the level of the first child, increase child benefit payments for all children, raise the level of the minimum wage in London and review the system of housing benefit so that it is not a disincentive to return to work in areas with high housing costs.