§ 46. Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the latest figures from his Department on the number of families living on very low incomes.
§ Mr. NewtonI presume the hon. Member has in mind the estimates contained in tables under the general heading "Low Income Families—1981". For details I refer him to those tables, which are lodged in the Library of the House, and to my reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) on 24 October.—[Vol. 47, c.51]
The estimates show an increase over 1979, with the notable exception of pensioner households where there are fewer low income families. The increase is mainly due to the increase in the number of unemployed.