This plan sets out the challenges facing the Department for Work and Pensions over the period from April 2009 to March 2010 and the plans the Department has in place to meet them.

Among the measures regarding families and children the Department aims to:

• introduce legislation in June 2009 which will enshrine in law the Government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020;
• increase conditionality for lone parents who are claiming benefits by requiring those with a youngest child aged 10 or over to actively seek and be available for work;
• take forward the Government’s vision for welfare reform for lone parents and partners of certain benefit recipients in the Welfare Reform Bill;
• and work closely with the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission to maximise the number of maintenance arrangements for children.

The plan is available to download from the Department’s website.