Social Exclusion Unit

HC Deb 21 January 2003 vol 398 c273W

Mr. Beith

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment the Social Exclusion Unit has made of the impact of debt on poor families. [91421]

Mrs. Roche

The Social Exclusion Unit has not made any specific assessment of the impact of debt on poor families. It has, however in previous reports, highlighted the effects debt can have on particular disadvantaged groups. In a recent report, "Reducing Re-offending by Ex-prisoners", the SEU assessed the impact of debt on a prisoner's chances of re-offending.

Also, "Access to Financial Services", a report of Policy Action Team 14, published in November 1999, found that many people in low income households and on tight budgets can ill afford the burden of servicing loans, and that there is a need for practical alternatives to expensive credit.