I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 47 together.
As part of the budget process, I held a pre-budget forum on 15 October. The forum was attended by 28 groups representative of a wide variety of welfare organisations, community and voluntary organisations and other interested groups. A broad range of proposals for the budget were put forward at the forum and the main proposals were as follows: substantial increases in weekly social welfare payments; qualified adult allowances to be significantly increased as a percentage of personal rates in 2002; significant increases in monthly child benefit payments; substantial improvements to the carer's allowance, particularly in relation to the means test; and a wide range of other improvements.
The Combat Poverty Agency also attended this forum and I have recently received a pre-budget submission from the agency. In its submission, the agency recommends setting a specific target for income poverty reduction, designed to improve the position of the poorest members of society. This would involve targeting surplus resources on welfare expenditure and not tax reductions. The establishment of an inclusive society, where all citizens have the opportunity and the incentive to participate fully in the social and economic life of the country, is a fundamental objective of the Government. In formulating proposals for inclusion in the 2002 budget, therefore, the Government will be endeavouring to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are invested in our social infrastructure.