§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of(a) children and (b) adults were living in poverty in each of the past 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the figures over the next three years. [110821]
§ Ms Dari TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of(a) children and (b) adults living in poverty (i) in actual terms and (ii) as a percentage of the general population in each category (A) for each of the past 10 years and (B) expected for these categories in each of the next three years. [110767]
§ Mr. BayleyPoverty and social exclusion are complex multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of people's lives, their income, health, housing, the quality of the environment, opportunities to work and to learn. There is no single measure which can capture the complex problems which need to be overcome.
We are determined to tackle the problems that condemn many individuals and communities to poverty. That is why we set out our strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion in our first annual report "Opportunity for All" (Cm 4445). The report includes a range of indicators that capture the many aspects of poverty and social exclusion. Information on the indicators, including definitions and baseline data, was placed in the House of Commons Library on 21 September to accompany "Opportunity for All".
The indicators outlined in "Opportunity for All" include the number of people living in low income households. Information for one of the indicators outlined in "Opportunity for All" is shown in the table.
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Children below 60 per cent. of median income, including the self-employed Before housing costs After housing costs Number (millions) Proportion (percentage) Number (millions) Proportion (percentage) FES years 1988–89 2.9 23 3.3 26 1990–91 3.2 26 3.9 31 1991–92 3.4 27 4.1 32 1992–93 3.5 27 4.3 33 1993–94 3.3 25 4.2 32 1994–95 3.2 24 4.2 32 1995–96 3.5 26 4.6 35 FRS years 1994–95 2.9 23 4 31 1995–96 2.7 21 4 31 1996–97 3.3 26 4.4 34 1997–98 3.2 25 4.3 33
Adults below 60 per cent. of median income, including the self-employed Before housing costs After housing costs Number (millions) Proportion (percentage) >Number (millions) Proportion (percentage) FES years 1988–89 8 18 9.3 21 1990–91 8.2 19 9.6 22 1991–92 8.3 19 9.9 22 1992–93 7.9 18 9.7 22 1993–94 7.2 16 9.3 21 1994–95 6.9 16 9.2 21 1995–96 7.3 16 9.6 22 FRS years 1994–95 6.9 16 9.2 21 1995–96 6.6 15 8.9 21 1996–97 7 16 9.5 22 1997–98 7.1 16 9.3 21 Notes:
1. Households Below Average Income (HBAI) estimates are based on Family Expenditure Survey (FES) data for the UK up to 1995–96 (combined financial years 1995–96 and 1996–97). From 1994–95, HBAI estimates are available for single financial years based on the larger Family Resources Survey (FRS), covering Great Britain. Despite the change in the survey and some changes in the precise definition of income, the estimates in this table are judged to be broadly comparable over the years.
2. The estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs and After Housing Costs in line with HBAI conventions.
3. All estimates are subject to sampling error.
Future year on year movements in the numbers of people falling below low income thresholds, and other poverty indicators, depend on a number of economic, social and demographic factors whose overall net effect cannot be predicted accurately, as well as on policy interventions.