§ Mr. GroganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children in Yorkshire and Humberside were living under the official poverty line in each of the years(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (e) 2000. [149439]
§ Mr. BayleyThere is no official poverty line defined by the Government. Poverty and social exclusion are complex multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of peoples 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.
The annual report, Opportunity for all—one year on: making a difference (Cm 4865) sets out and monitors the Governments strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion.