§ 19. Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of his policies for the reduction of poverty.
§ Sir K. JosephRetirement pensions and related benefits were substantially increased in September, without any increase in national insurance contributions by the low paid, and we have introduced the Family Income Supplement, selective improvements for the chronic sick and the over-80s, the attendance allowance and pensions for younger widows. The Family Income Supplement will go up in April, and we are now committed to review pensions and benefits every year, beginning next October.
§ Mr. MeacherDespite that answer, will the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge that almost none of the families in receipt of family income supplement has even been brought up to the poverty line, and that amongst all the other poverty groups, entirely contrary to the Prime Minister's election commitments, there are now more than 250,000 more people in poverty than at the election? What is the right hon. Gentleman doing about the scandal of this rapidly deteriorating position?
§ Sir K. JosephThe hon. Gentleman is talking rubbish when he says that 250,000 more people are in poverty. What has happened is that there are more elderly people and more unemployed than there were 18 months ago, and for these reasons more people are receiving supplementary benefit. But the last Government did not regard, nor do the present Government regard, those on supplementary benefit as falling in the category of family poverty, which both parties have undertaken to tackle. Judged by that standard, 232 the number living below the supplementary benefit level is now less than it was.