§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of poverty in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Chris PattenIn the absence of any generally accepted definition of the term poverty, it is not possible to quantify its extent in Northern Ireland.
However, the main conditions which give rise to financial deprivation such as long-term unemployment, low earnings and dependence on social security benefits apply to a greater extent in Northern Ireland than in areas of comparable size elsewhere in the United Kingdom. It is for that reason in particular that I welcome the major reviews of the social security system which have been announced recently. Northern Ireland interests will have the opportunity to participate fully in the reviews which are designed to identify the needs which should be provided for and to consider how they can most sensibly be met within the constraints of the available resources.