Spain to fight poverty with income scheme for 2.5 million people

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain plans to spend 3 billion euros (£2.69 billion) a year on a scheme to provide most of its poorest citizens with a minimum income aimed at bringing poverty down to the European Union's average from the highest rate in western Europe.Social Security Minister Jose Luis Escriva told Reuters the cabinet is expected to approve the first nationwide, non-universal income support programme next Tuesday designed to reach 850,000 households, or 2.5 million Spaniards.The minority..