§ Mr. LesterTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take action to include details of(a) travel-to-work expenses, and (b) work-related childcare costs in the family expenditure survey with a view to their being taken into account in the equivalent scales used in future editions of "Households Below Average Income", and in the assessment of replacement ratios.
§ Mr. LeeThe quality of the family expenditure survey results depends on there being strict limits on the amount and kind of information that is collected. The detailed information obtained is designed to meet a wide range of different requirements and is agreed between Government240W Departments. Travel-to-work expenses and work-related child care costs are included in expenditure but are not separately identified. My 'Department is prepared to consider any changes to the contents of the survey provided there is sufficient support for these and compensating reductions can be made elsewhere.
Equivalence scales as used in "Households Below Average Income" and replacement ratios are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.