§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of persons and the percentage of the total population, who were living on incomes less than 60 per cent. of the national average, in(a) 1985, (b) 1990, (c) 1991 and (d) the current year, respectively, or in those years nearest to these dates where information is available.
§ Mr. BurtSuch information as is available is taken from the Households Below Average Income series. Households Below Average Incomes does not cover 1985 and, at present, only goes up to 1988–89. The available years closest to those requested are 1981, 1987 and 1988–89. The figures, both before and after housing costs, are in the table.
Number and percentage of people in the United Kingdom with less than 60 per cent, of average income. 1981 1987 1988–89 Before housing costs Number of people (millions) 10.6 14.6 16 Percentage of people 19 26 29 After housing costs Number of people (millions) 11.9 16.2 16.8 Percentage of people 22 29 30
§ Ms. CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the mean net disposable income for 1979 and for each of the two years 1988 and 1989, at April 1992 prices, of the richest and poorest 20 per cent. of households, based on the equivalised income data collected for the latest households below average income analysis, distinguishing between the mean and the median.
§ Mr. BurtI refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 16 July 1992,Official Report, columns 946–47.
As recommended in the Households Below Average Income stocktaking report, only the median is used as the average measure for subdivisions of the income distribution.
§ Ms. CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 July,Official Report, column 454, if he will list the factors which prevent the publication of 1990–91 data from the households below average income analysis before mid-1993; and how much delay is accounted for by each factor.
§ Mr. Burt1991 Family Expenditure Survey data is received by the Department in a form suitable for HBAI data preparation in October 1992. Some four to five months are then needed to set up consistent data files and a further four to five months to produce accurate and robust results, tables and analysis.
§ Ms. CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the full value of free and subsidised school meals affects calculations of the mean, and the median, net 737W disposable income of the poorest 20 per cent. of (i) all households and (ii) households with children in each of the single years 1979 and 1989., using the information collected in the latest housholds below average income stocking report at April 1992 prices.
§ Mr. BurtAs recommended in the Households Below Average Income stocktaking report only the median is used to represent subdivisions of the income distribution and 1988 and 1989 are always combined. For part (i) of the question I therefore refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 16 July 1992,Official Report, columns 947–48. The table answers part (ii) of the question:
Average equivalised income at April 1992 prices for the bottom 20 per cent, of individuals in households of families with children 1979 £ 1988–89 £ Before housing costs: Excluding free school meals 96 96 Including free school meals 99 98 After housing costs: Excluding free school meals 78 74 Including free school meals 82 76
§ Ms. CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was, for each type of household En the Family Expenditure Survey, the average disposable income at April 1992 prices, including the value of free and subsidised school meals, of the poorest 10 per cent. and poorest 20 per cent. of households, equivalised for household size and composition, after taking account of housing costs, for each of the two years 1988 and 1989.
§ Mr. BurtI refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 16 July 1992,Official Report, columns 947–48.