§ 27. Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates to be the change in real terms in income distribution produced by his social service measures since June, 1970.
§ Mr. DeanI regret that reliable estimates are not available owing to the variety of factors involved.
§ Mr. MeacherIs the Under-Secretary aware that, as a result of the Govern- 1398 ment's fiscal and welfare measures so far the best estimates show that skilled workers on average are now 80p per week better off while those in business and the professions on incomes over £5,000 a year are perhaps some £36 a week better off? Is not this business man's order of priorities the reason why the Secretary of State could recently offer the Pre-school Playgroups Association only a pathetically inadequate £45,000 for the immense aim of helping to break the family cycle of deprivation?
§ Mr. DeanThe Government are much more interested in practical measures to help the elderly, the disabled and the widows than in abstract theory about equality and envy.