Families are now enjoying a better standard of living, according to new research from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The research from the DWP shows that more families are now enjoying a better standard of living and that progress has been made by the Government in tackling poverty.

It said that reforms to the Welfare State had enabled more people to get off benefits and into work, and that was contributing to the improvements in living standards.

Margaret Hodge said: “The incomes of the poorest households in this country are growing faster than any other group of the population.

“But we know that there is a great deal more to do. Our plans for the Reform of the Welfare state outlined in the recent Green Paper, the redesign of the child support system, as well as our plans to improve the CSA in the shorter term, will all be absolutely vital to ensuring further progress.”