A government minister will tour Thanet today to find out what is being done to help families and traders through the economic downturn.

Jonathan Shaw, the South East Regional Minister, is starting his day with a tour of the Marlowe Innovation Centre - a centre for small start-up businesses at the Marlowe Academy in Ramsgate.

Mr Shaw, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, will also visit Citizens Advice Bureaux in Broadstairs and Margate to talk about changes to the tax and benefits systems, announced earlier this week.

The Government says that around 3.45 million basic rate taxpayers will be £145 a year better off, thanks to increases in the amount that can be earned tax free.

Rises in Child Tax Credit will benefit around 680,000 families, each of whom will receive £150 extra every year, it is claimed.