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2006-07 (2,089)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children were considered to be living in poverty in each year since 1997.
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children were considered to be living in poverty in each year since 1997.
Asked by
Sandra Gidley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 July 2007
For answer on
18 July 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
I have been asked to reply.The most commonly used poverty indicator is the proportion of households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income. Income is measured before housing costs: this is the international norm.The information requested is available on page 53 of the Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2005/06 (Revised). This is available in the Library.
Subjects
Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
151052; 465 c834W
House
House of Commons
(5) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of disabled children in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of disabled children in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Disability; Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161808; 465 c745W
House
House of Commons
(4) how many and what proportion of households in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how many and what proportion of households in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161806; 465 c745W
House
House of Commons
(3) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of households in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of households in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161805; 465 c745W
House
House of Commons
(2) how many and what proportion of children in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many and what proportion of children in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
465 c745W; 161804
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of children in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of children in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161803; 465 c745W
House
House of Commons
(8) how many and what proportion of lone parents in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
(8) how many and what proportion of lone parents in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161815; 465 c745W
House
House of Commons
(6) how many and what proportion of disabled children in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
(6) how many and what proportion of disabled children in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Disability; Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161811; 465 c745W
House
House of Commons
(7) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of lone parents in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
(7) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of lone parents in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Children; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161812; 465 c745W
House
House of Commons
(2) how many and what proportion of pensioners in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
(2) how many and what proportion of pensioners in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England were living below the poverty line in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Mike O'Brien
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The available information is in the following tables.
We have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Based on income measured after housing costs the number of pensioners in Great Britain living in relative poverty has fallen by more than one million between 1996-97 and 2005-06.We will continue to build on this good progress. A new Public Service Agreement 'Tackle poverty and promote greater independence in later life', published as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2007 clearly demonstrates that tackling the problems of low income amongst older people remains a key government priority.
| Number of pensioners living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK/GB³ | Wales | Scotland | England | ||
| 1996-97 | 2,890,000 | 1994-95 to 1996-97 | 140,000 | 270,000 | 2,400,000 |
| 1997-98 | 2,900,000 | 1995-96 to 1997-98 | 150,000 | 270,000 | 2,440,000 |
| 1998-99 | 2,940,000 | 1996-97 to 1998-99 | 150,000 | 260,000 | 2,490,000 |
| 1999-2000 | 2,840,000 | 1997-98 to 1999-2000 | 140,000 | 240,000 | 2,460,000 |
| 2000-01 | 2,680,000 | 1998-99 to 2000-01 | 130,000 | 230,000 | 2,380,000 |
| 2001-02 | 2,660,000 | 1999-2000 to 2001-02 | 140,000 | 230,000 | 2,300,000 |
| 2002-03 | 2,530,000 | 2000-01 to 2002-03 | 130,000 | 220,000 | 2,220,000 |
| 2003-04 | 2,180,000 | 2001-02 to 2003-04 | 120,000 | 210,000 | 2,070,000 |
| 2004-05 | 1,880,000 | 2002-03 to 2004-05 | 110,000 | 190,000 | 1,850,000 |
| 2005-06 | 1,840,000 | 2003-04 to 2005-06 | 110,000 | 160,000 | 1,640,000 |
| Percentage of pensioners living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK/GB³ | Wales | Scotland | England | ||
| 1996-97 | 29 | 1994-95 to 1996-97 | 26 | 31 | 28 |
| 1997-98 | 29 | 1995-96 to 1997-98 | 27 | 31 | 29 |
| 1998-99 | 29 | 1996-97 to 1998-99 | 26 | 29 | 29 |
| 1999-00 | 28 | 1997-98 to 1999-2000 | 26 | 28 | 29 |
| 2000-01 | 26 | 1998-99 to 2000-01 | 24 | 27 | 28 |
| 2001-02 | 26 | 1999-2000 to 2001-02 | 24 | 26 | 27 |
| 2002-03 | 24 | 2000-01 to 2002-03 | 23 | 25 | 26 |
| 2003-04 | 21 | 2001-02 to 2003-04 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 2004-05 | 18 | 2002-03 to 2004-05 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
| 2005-06 | 17 | 2003-04 to 2005-06 | 20 | 18 | 18 |
| ³ Figures are for the UK from 1998-99 onwards, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. Earlier years are for GB only. Notes: 1. There is no single accepted poverty line. The measure of low income for pensioners we have adopted uses a threshold of 60 per cent of contemporary median income after housing costs. 2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 thousand, and percentages to the nearest percentage point. 3. Numbers for Wales, Scotland and England are presented using a three-year moving average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Source: Family Resources Survey |
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161809; 465 c768-70W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of pensioners in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of pensioners in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
Asked by
Jenny Willott
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Mike O'Brien
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
29 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The available information is in the following tables.
We have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Based on income measured after housing costs the number of pensioners in Great Britain living in relative poverty has fallen by more than one million between 1996-97 and 2005-06.We will continue to build on this good progress. A new Public Service Agreement 'Tackle poverty and promote greater independence in later life', published as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2007 clearly demonstrates that tackling the problems of low income amongst older people remains a key government priority.
| Number of pensioners living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK/GB³ | Wales | Scotland | England | ||
| 1996-97 | 2,890,000 | 1994-95 to 1996-97 | 140,000 | 270,000 | 2,400,000 |
| 1997-98 | 2,900,000 | 1995-96 to 1997-98 | 150,000 | 270,000 | 2,440,000 |
| 1998-99 | 2,940,000 | 1996-97 to 1998-99 | 150,000 | 260,000 | 2,490,000 |
| 1999-2000 | 2,840,000 | 1997-98 to 1999-2000 | 140,000 | 240,000 | 2,460,000 |
| 2000-01 | 2,680,000 | 1998-99 to 2000-01 | 130,000 | 230,000 | 2,380,000 |
| 2001-02 | 2,660,000 | 1999-2000 to 2001-02 | 140,000 | 230,000 | 2,300,000 |
| 2002-03 | 2,530,000 | 2000-01 to 2002-03 | 130,000 | 220,000 | 2,220,000 |
| 2003-04 | 2,180,000 | 2001-02 to 2003-04 | 120,000 | 210,000 | 2,070,000 |
| 2004-05 | 1,880,000 | 2002-03 to 2004-05 | 110,000 | 190,000 | 1,850,000 |
| 2005-06 | 1,840,000 | 2003-04 to 2005-06 | 110,000 | 160,000 | 1,640,000 |
| Percentage of pensioners living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK/GB³ | Wales | Scotland | England | ||
| 1996-97 | 29 | 1994-95 to 1996-97 | 26 | 31 | 28 |
| 1997-98 | 29 | 1995-96 to 1997-98 | 27 | 31 | 29 |
| 1998-99 | 29 | 1996-97 to 1998-99 | 26 | 29 | 29 |
| 1999-00 | 28 | 1997-98 to 1999-2000 | 26 | 28 | 29 |
| 2000-01 | 26 | 1998-99 to 2000-01 | 24 | 27 | 28 |
| 2001-02 | 26 | 1999-2000 to 2001-02 | 24 | 26 | 27 |
| 2002-03 | 24 | 2000-01 to 2002-03 | 23 | 25 | 26 |
| 2003-04 | 21 | 2001-02 to 2003-04 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 2004-05 | 18 | 2002-03 to 2004-05 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
| 2005-06 | 17 | 2003-04 to 2005-06 | 20 | 18 | 18 |
| ³ Figures are for the UK from 1998-99 onwards, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. Earlier years are for GB only. Notes: 1. There is no single accepted poverty line. The measure of low income for pensioners we have adopted uses a threshold of 60 per cent of contemporary median income after housing costs. 2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 thousand, and percentages to the nearest percentage point. 3. Numbers for Wales, Scotland and England are presented using a three-year moving average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Source: Family Resources Survey |
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
161807; 465 c768-70W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the local government financial assistance schemes available through Leeds City Council aimed at tackling urban poverty in the area.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the local government financial assistance schemes available through Leeds City Council aimed at tackling urban poverty in the area.
Asked by
John Battle
(Labour)
Answered by
John Healey
(Labour)
Answering body
Communities and Local Government
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 October 2007
For answer on
19 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The information is as follows:
Details can be found on the following websites:"www.leeds.gov.uk""www.neighbourhoods.gov.uk""www.leedsinitiative.org"
| Scheme | Allocation 2007-08 (£ million) | Purpose of funding |
| Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF) | 14.938 | To target resources to improve services in the most disadvantaged areas to narrow the gap between them and the rest of the country. |
| NRF is prioritised to activities that contribute to the achievement of the Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets within the 4 LLAA Themes: | ||
| Children and Young People | ||
| Healthier Communities and Older People | ||
| Safer and Stronger Communities | ||
| Economic Development and Enterprise | ||
| Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) | 4.770 | To release the economic potential of the most deprived local areas through enterprise, thereby boosting local incomes and employment opportunities and building sustainable communities. |
| By 2010, the programme aims: | ||
| to create over 500 new businesses within areas of greatest disadvantage in Leeds, with two thirds of these started by local residents | ||
| to attract 75 new businesses into these areas and provide assistance to help a further 650 existing businesses to develop | ||
| in the long term: to stimulate a culture of enterprise, attract investment and create over 1,100 jobs. | ||
| Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF): Neighbourhood Element | 1.7430 | The Neighbourhood Element provides funding to improve outcomes for people living in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods—those that fall within the 3 per cent. most deprived nationally. The funding is targeted to achieve the SSCF outcome: 'to improve the quality of life for people living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and to ensure that service providers are more responsive to neighbourhood needs and improve their delivery'. |
| Key elements of the programme include:- | ||
| Dedicated environmental management capacity; | ||
| Dedicated community safety capacity linked to Neighbourhood Policing; | ||
| Empty property team; | ||
| Support for young people and vulnerable families; | ||
| Capital resources for problem sites and public realm improvement works; | ||
| Neighbourhood Management staff to lead and co-ordinate activity; | ||
| Community engagement workers . | ||
| Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF): Cleaner, Safer, Greener | 1.130 | Focussed upon the 3 per cent. most deprived neighbourhood, this funding will support a range of improvement works to deliver: |
| visible on-street environmental improvements such as repairs to footpaths and highways, enhancing binyards, improving boundary treatments, and enhancing greenspaces; | ||
| security measures such as the target hardening of properties vulnerable to burglary, dawn to dusk lighting targeted at areas with high numbers of older residents, gating schemes to provide security and prevent anti-social activities, and the boarding up empty properties; | ||
| Activity programmes are based upon a neighbourhood assessment and Neighbourhood Improvement Plans based on meaningful consultation. | ||
| Access to Employment; Single Pot Funding | 1.11 | This funding provides targeted support to help BME residents, refugees, migrant workers, claimants aged over 50, lone parents and incapacity benefit recipients into work. Support will be provided through: |
| job brokerage programmes that better link individuals with recruiting employers; | ||
| work to address barriers to the labour market faced by individuals and subsequent support required to assist them; | ||
| work with employers to provide employment opportunities for disadvantaged residents in growth sectors that are experiencing recruitment difficulties, including financial and professional services, construction and healthcare; | ||
| innovative and pilot activity to develop new methods of working and good practice |
Subjects
Leeds; Poverty
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
159859; 465 c675-8W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Joint Ministerial Committee on Child Poverty will next meet; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Joint Ministerial Committee on Child Poverty will next meet; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Danny Alexander
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Jane Kennedy
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
23 October 2007
For answer on
25 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
There are a number of other fora in which the Government and the devolved Administrations have discussed child poverty. In the last two years, officials have met at regular intervals.The CSR reconfirmed the Government's commitment to the target of halving child poverty by 2010, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will meet with the Secretaries of State for Children, Schools and Families and Work and Pensions to oversee this PSA in the coming months.
Subjects
Poverty; Children
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
465 c898W; 161048
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the statistical measurement of living in poverty is in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the statistical measurement of living in poverty is in the UK.
Asked by
David Marshall
(Labour)
Answered by
Caroline Flint
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 October 2007
For answer on
19 October 2007
Answered on
25 October 2007
Poverty is a complex and multidimensional issue and, as such, there are many possible measures of poverty. To reflect this, there are a wide range of indicators included in opportunity for all.While income alone does not provide a wide enough measure of poverty, it is generally accepted that low income is central to any poverty measurement. The most common measure of low income used to capture poverty is individuals living in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, adjusted to take account of family size and composition.The public service agreement (PSA) to halve child poverty includes three indicators of child poverty. These are relative low income (below 60 per cent. contemporary median household income), absolute low income (below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income uprated in line with prices), and combined low income and material deprivation.The new PSA 'Tackle poverty and promote greater independence in later life' includes three indicators related to low income for pensioners. These are relative low income (below 60 per cent. contemporary median household income), relative low income (below 50 per cent. contemporary median household income), and absolute low income (below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income uprated in line with prices).
Subjects
Poverty
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
160054; 465 c540-1W
House
House of Commons
Type
Select Committee written evidence;
Parliamentary committees
Committee
Work and Pensions Committee
Subjects
Children; Disadvantaged; Families; Poverty; Social security benefits
Commons Library location
CS 599
Date
24 October 2007
House
House of Commons
Type
House of Commons papers; Select Committee oral evidence;
Parliamentary committees
Committee
Work and Pensions Committee
Subjects
Children; Disadvantaged; Families; Poverty; Social security benefits; Institute for Public Policy Research; Ridge, Tess; Bennett, Fran; Harker, Lisa
Commons Library location
CS 599
Date
24 October 2007
Reference
HC 1023-i 2006-07
House
House of Commons
The Minister will be aware that, since 1997, the number of people living in severe poverty has increased by 600,000, that working-age poverty has increased and that the number of young people not in work or full-time education has risen by 20 per cent. Perhaps we should therefore not be surprised that, last week, the Government decided not to publish their usual annual Opportunity for All report. Instead, they simply slipped out the bare indicators on the Department for Work and Pensions website with as little fanfare as possible. Was last Thursday thought to be a particularly good day to bury bad news?
The Minister will be aware that, since 1997, the number of people living in severe poverty has increased by 600,000, that working-age poverty has increased and that the number of young people not in work or full-time education has risen by 20 per cent. Perhaps we should therefore not be surprised that, last week, the Government decided not to publish their usual annual Opportunity for All report. Instead, they simply slipped out the bare indicators on the Department for Work and Pensions website with as little fanfare as possible. Was last Thursday thought to be a particularly good day to bury bad news?
Asked by
Lord Maude of Horsham
(Conservative)
Answering body
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 October 2007
The figures have been published and they are on the website, which is open and available to everyone. I do not recognise the position that the right hon. Gentleman describes. We have more people in work and in decent homes than ever before; we have lifted 600,000 children out of poverty; and we have seen major increases in income and educational achievement. The whole point about the public service agreement is that it is a Government commitment to go even further.
Subjects
Disadvantaged; Poverty; Public service agreements
Date
23 October 2007
Reference
465 c157-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of (a) poverty and (b) unemployment levels in Gaza; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of (a) poverty and (b) unemployment levels in Gaza; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Lord Hague of Richmond
(Conservative)
Answered by
Shahid Malik
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for International Development
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 October 2007
For answer on
18 October 2007
Answered on
22 October 2007
I have been asked to reply.DFID relies on agencies with a presence in Gaza for humanitarian and poverty updates and does not duplicate these by adding its own regular assessments. For example, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) closely monitor the humanitarian situation and produce regular reports. UNOCHA reports that 87 per cent. of Gazans live below the poverty line of $2.40 daily income.The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reports that unemployment for Gaza was 32.3 per cent. over the period April to June 2007. However, this figure is an underestimate as it does not include large numbers who have turned to unpaid family labour, are in seasonal employment or who have left the labour force when they could not find work. In addition, the World Bank reported in September that the closure of trade in and out of Gaza has significantly increased redundancies. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that an additional 10 per cent. of employees would like to work more hours if this were possible.
Subjects
Economic situation; Poverty; Unemployment; Palestine; Gaza; Occupied territories
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
159564; 465 c49W
House
House of Commons
(3) what assessment he has made of the likely effect of measures announced in the recent pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review on pensioner poverty in Ochil and South Perthshire;
(3) what assessment he has made of the likely effect of measures announced in the recent pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review on pensioner poverty in Ochil and South Perthshire;
Asked by
Gordon Banks
(Labour)
Answered by
Mike O'Brien
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
15 October 2007
For answer on
17 October 2007
Answered on
22 October 2007
Specific information regarding low income is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06 (Revised)', a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.The data source does not allow us to provide robust numbers for estimates below a regional level. Therefore estimates for Ochil and South Perthshire and for Clackmannanshire are not available. Instead, information on the numbers of pensioners in households with low incomes in Scotland for the period 1997-98 to 2005-06 is presented in the following table.
Our policies have been effective in tackling pensioner poverty and now, for the first time ever in a period of sustained economic growth, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole. Since 1997 over one million pensioners have been lifted out of relative poverty, including approximately 90 thousand pensioners (rounded to the nearest ten thousand) in Scotland.Minimum income guarantee and pension credit, winter fuel payments and a 7 per cent. real terms increase in the value of the basic state pension have all contributed to improving pensioner incomes. The announcement in the pre-Budget report to increase pension credit standard minimum guarantee to £124 a week for single pensioners (£189 a week for couples) in 2008-09, and commitment to uprate it in line with earnings over the long term, demonstrates our continued commitment to tackling pensioner poverty.A new public service agreement 'Tackle poverty and promote greater independence in later life' was published as part of the comprehensive spending review on 9 October 2007. This clearly demonstrates that tackling the problems of low income among older people remains a key government priority.The Scottish government is also tackling pensioner poverty in Scotland, in partnership with the UK Government. It is promoting benefit uptake through the benefits health checks offered as part of the free central heating programme, and funding of the Scottish helpline for older people. Its central heating programme, free Scotland-wide bus travel, and free personal and nursing care are complementing measures provided by the UK Government.
| Number and percentage of pensioners in Scotland living in households below 60 per cent. median income after housing costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thousand | Percentage | |
| 1997-98 | 250 | 28 |
| 1998-99 | 230 | 27 |
| 1999-2000 | 250 | 28 |
| 2000-01 | 220 | 25 |
| 2001-02 | 210 | 24 |
| 2002-03 | 220 | 25 |
| 2003-04 | 180 | 21 |
| 2004-05 | 150 | 16 |
| 2005-06 | 150 | 16 |
| Notes: | ||
| 1. The table shows number of pensioners in thousands—rounded to nearest 10 thousand. | ||
| 2. Low income is determined for pensioners as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the UK median after housing costs. | ||
| Source: | ||
| Scottish Households Below Average Income 2005-06—revised |
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty; Clackmannanshire
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
159313; 465 c63-4W
House
House of Commons
(2) what estimate he has made of the level of pensioner poverty in Clackmannanshire in each year since 1997;
(2) what estimate he has made of the level of pensioner poverty in Clackmannanshire in each year since 1997;
Asked by
Gordon Banks
(Labour)
Answered by
Mike O'Brien
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
15 October 2007
For answer on
17 October 2007
Answered on
22 October 2007
Specific information regarding low income is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06 (Revised)', a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.The data source does not allow us to provide robust numbers for estimates below a regional level. Therefore estimates for Ochil and South Perthshire and for Clackmannanshire are not available. Instead, information on the numbers of pensioners in households with low incomes in Scotland for the period 1997-98 to 2005-06 is presented in the following table.
Our policies have been effective in tackling pensioner poverty and now, for the first time ever in a period of sustained economic growth, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole. Since 1997 over one million pensioners have been lifted out of relative poverty, including approximately 90 thousand pensioners (rounded to the nearest ten thousand) in Scotland.Minimum income guarantee and pension credit, winter fuel payments and a 7 per cent. real terms increase in the value of the basic state pension have all contributed to improving pensioner incomes. The announcement in the pre-Budget report to increase pension credit standard minimum guarantee to £124 a week for single pensioners (£189 a week for couples) in 2008-09, and commitment to uprate it in line with earnings over the long term, demonstrates our continued commitment to tackling pensioner poverty.A new public service agreement 'Tackle poverty and promote greater independence in later life' was published as part of the comprehensive spending review on 9 October 2007. This clearly demonstrates that tackling the problems of low income among older people remains a key government priority.The Scottish government is also tackling pensioner poverty in Scotland, in partnership with the UK Government. It is promoting benefit uptake through the benefits health checks offered as part of the free central heating programme, and funding of the Scottish helpline for older people. Its central heating programme, free Scotland-wide bus travel, and free personal and nursing care are complementing measures provided by the UK Government.
| Number and percentage of pensioners in Scotland living in households below 60 per cent. median income after housing costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thousand | Percentage | |
| 1997-98 | 250 | 28 |
| 1998-99 | 230 | 27 |
| 1999-2000 | 250 | 28 |
| 2000-01 | 220 | 25 |
| 2001-02 | 210 | 24 |
| 2002-03 | 220 | 25 |
| 2003-04 | 180 | 21 |
| 2004-05 | 150 | 16 |
| 2005-06 | 150 | 16 |
| Notes: | ||
| 1. The table shows number of pensioners in thousands—rounded to nearest 10 thousand. | ||
| 2. Low income is determined for pensioners as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the UK median after housing costs. | ||
| Source: | ||
| Scottish Households Below Average Income 2005-06—revised |
Subjects
Pensioners; Poverty; Clackmannanshire
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
159312; 465 c63-4W
House
House of Commons