§ Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will carry out an assessment of the impact of his Department's current policies on the(a) income, (b) employment opportunities and (c) living standards, of the poorest 30 per cent. of the population. [23334]
§ Dr. ReidWe have no plans to do so. The Department carries out assessments of the impact of its policies in terms of overall value for money and upon the defence industries and regional employment. Such assessments do not attempt to separate the effects upon the poorest 30 per cent. of the population, or any other sub-division of the population by income.