§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) people and (b) children were living in poverty in Wales in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001. [153166]
§ Mr. BayleyI have been asked to reply.
Poverty and social exclusion are complex multidimensional issues, affecting many aspects of people's lives—including income, health, housing, the quality of their environment and opportunities to learn. There is no single measure that can capture the complex problems that need to be overcome.
However a number of these aspects have seen significant improvement in Wales since 1997. For example, the number of unemployed people in Wales has fallen by around 35,000 from nearly 90,000 in February 1997 to around 55,000 in February 2001. Between 1997 and 2000 the number of children in families in Wales in receipt of out of work benefits has fallen from 160,000 to around 145,000. The proportion of 11-year-olds in Wales achieving level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 has risen in English from 64 per cent. in 1997 to 74 per cent. in 2000 and in Mathematics from 64 per cent. in 1997 to 69 per cent. in 2000.
The annual report, "Opportunity for all", available in the Library, sets out and monitors the UK Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion. The UK Government are working in partnership with the National Assembly for Wales to tackle poverty and social exclusion in Wales.
Note:
Unemployment figures based on claimant count information.