§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Prime Minister what are the terms of reference of the social exclusion unit; how many full-time equivalent staff it will have; and what estimate he has made of its annual running cost. [12825]
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§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 27 October 1997]: The full membership of the unit and its precise terms of reference will be announced shortly. Its budget is currently being determined, but will be funded from within existing resources.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's definition of social exclusion. [12827]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 27 October 1997]: Social exclusion can be broadly defined as covering those people who do not have the means, material and otherwise, to participate in social, economic, political and cultural life.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Prime Minister how he will assess whether social exclusion has decreased as a result of the work of the social exclusion unit. [12826]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 27 October 1997]: The social exclusion unit will have clear public terms of reference, against which its work can be judged.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of people experiencing social exclusion at present; and what are the principal causes of that social exclusion. [12828]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 27 October 1997]: One of the social exclusion unit's key tasks will be to draw together information on the key indicators of social exclusion and improve understanding of its causes.