§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the adult working population he assesses as being below the poverty line; and what percentage was below the poverty line in 1984 and 1979.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThere is no official definition of "poverty" and no generally agreed way in which to qualify it. Nor has there ever been any suggestion or acceptance by any Government, irrespective of party, that it is possible to draw any simple poverty line.