§ Andy KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the income thresholds used in paragraph 7 of the reply by the Government to the Second Report of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Session 2003–04, Cm 6200 are(a) before housing costs (i) for the relative low income and (ii) for the absolute low income and (b) after housing costs (i) for the relative low income and (ii) for the absolute low income. [179516]
§ Mr. PondThe figures in paragraph 7 of the reply by the Government to the Second Report of the Work and Pensions Select Committee refer to two different income thresholds. The absolute low income threshold used is 60 per cent. of the 1996–97 median equivalised household income. The relative low income threshold is 60 per cent. of contemporary median equivalised household income. The figures refer to changes between 1996–97 and 2002–03; the latest year for which figures are available.
Information relating to absolute and relative low income was derived from "Households Below Average Income—An analysis of the income distribution for 1994–95 to 2002–03". It is available in the Library.