§ Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will carry out an assessment of the impact of his Department's current policies on the(a) income, (b) employment opportunities and (c) living standards, of the poorest 30 per cent. of the population. [23337]
§ Mr. StrawCrime and the fear of crime disproportionately affect those who are most disadvantaged in our society. Our policies for tackling crime and its causes are designed therefore to have a particular impact on those estates and neighbourhoods where crime and antisocial behaviour are most prevalent. We are also pursuing initiatives to strengthen the family, promote a vigorous voluntary sector and tackle social exclusion (including by enhancing training and treatment programmes for offenders). The Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate will continue to manage a varied 697W programme of research to evaluate the effectiveness of our policies, including their impact in reducing social deprivation.