§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the estimated number of pensioner households officially living in poverty in(a) Britain, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the Gedling parliamentary constituency; and what were the figures (i) 10 and (ii) 20 years ago; [4383]
(2) what is the estimated number of families officially living in poverty in (a) Britain, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the Gedling parliamentary constituency; and what were the figures (i) 10 and (ii) 20 years ago; [4382]
(3) what is the estimated number of children living in poverty in (a) Britain, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the Gedling parliamentary constituency; and what were the figures (i) 10 and (ii) 20 years ago. [4384]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information requested is not available. The policies of the previous Administration led to poverty and social division throughout Britain. The Government are committed to mounting a concerted attack against the worklessness which is causing social and economic inequality and welfare dependency.
Information on those with low incomes is available in the Government Statistical Service publication, "Households Below Average Income". This annual report seeks to measure potential living standards derived from goods and services financed from disposable income. It provides a range of statistics monitoring the characteristics of people at various points in the income distribution, and describes how changes in income over time have affected particular groups. Complementary information is provided on possession of consumer durables and on household expenditure.
"Households Below Average Income" was last published in November 1996, and a copy is in the Library.