§ 17. Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is currently the number of children in families with earned incomes lower than the supplementary benefit scales.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Mr. David Ennals)We are testing the possibility of estimating from the data obtained through the continuous Family Expenditure Survey the number of families, the head of which is in full-time work, living below the level of their requirements by supplementary benefit standards, and the number of children in those families. The results of these tests should be available shortly.
§ Sir B. Rhys WilliamsDo the Government accept the view of the Child Poverty Action Group that this problem will never be solved until there is a sharp increase in the rate of family allowances? If not, what do the Government propose to do?
§ Mr. EnnalsIt is interesting to hear that question coming from that side of the House, since this Government have more than doubled the level of family allowances since coming into power. The survey to which I referred deals with a period immediately following that of the latest increases in family allowances. We shall then be able to make an assessment as to what extent the family allowance procedure, with the claw-back provision which we introduced, is an effective means, as I believe it is, of relieving poverty in those families.
§ Lord BalnielBut does the hon. Gentleman accept the statistical analysis of the Child Poverty Action Group that at the end of 1969 there were about 750,000 children living below poverty levels as defined by the supplementary benefit scales?
§ Mr. EnnalsNo, I cannot accept the generalised conclusion in the Child Poverty Action Group document, because it is not based on any available statistics. The statistics relating to children in these low-income groups with a father at work are based on studies made in 1966 and published in 1967.