HC Deb 26 March 2003 vol 402 cc288-9W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children lived in households with less than median income in each year from 1975–76 to 2002–03 in(a) numerical and (b) percentage terms; and if he will make a statement. [95582]

Malcolm Wicks

Such information as is available is provided in the tables.

Numbers and risk of falling below median income for children in households, including the self-employed
Million
Before housing costs After housing costs
Percentage Number Percentage Number
1979 59 60
1981 61 62
1987 59 60
1988–89 58 61
1990–91 61 63
1991–92 59 61
1991–92 59 61
1992–93 59 61
1993–94 60 62
1994–95 59 7.5 61 7.8
1995–96 59 7.5 61 7.8
1996–97 60 7.8 62 8.1
1997–98 61 7.8 63 8.0

Numbers and risk of falling below median income for children in

households, including the self-employed

Million
Before housing costs After housing costs
Percentage Number Percentage Number
1998–99 61 7.8 63 8.0
1999–2000 60 7.8 62 8.0
2000–01 59 7.6 62 7.9

Notes:

1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. From 1979 to 1993–94 data are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey: single years for 1979, 1981 and 1987, two calendar years combined for 1988–89, 1990–91,1991–92 and 1992–93 and two financial years combined for 1993–94; results are for the United Kingdom. From 1994–05 to 2000–01, data are derived from the Family Resources Survey and represents single financial years. The Family Resources Survey does not include Northern Ireland, and the latest year for which data is available is 2000–01.

2. Numbers are in millions. Estimates of numbers from the Family Expenditure Survey are not considered sufficiently reliable to be presented here.

3. The estimates are sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response using multipurpose grossing factors that, in the case of the Family Resources Survey, control for tenure, Council Tax band and a number of other variables. Estimates are subject to both sampling error and to variability in non-response. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (that is to say income that is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household).

4. The estimates are presented on both a Before Housing Costs (BHC) and an After Housing Costs (AHC) basis in line with HBAI conventions. Figures are provided including the self-employed.