HC Deb 24 October 1988 vol 139 c60W
Mr. Patchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Great Britain(a) over pension age and (b) under pension age are (i) below, (ii) on and (iii) up to 40 per cent. above supplementary benefit level; how many children there are in each group; and how many heads of households in each group are (x) in work, (y) unemployed or (z) sick or disabled.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The figures are set out in the table.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

There is no official definition of "poverty" and no generally agreed way in which to quantify it. Nor has there ever been any suggestion of, or acceptance by, any Government, irrespective of party, that it is possible to draw any simple poverty line.

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