Ms Buck:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) children, (b) pensioners and (c) working-age adults were in poverty in each English region in (i) 1990, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2007. [217100]
Mr. Timms:
Specific information regarding low income for the UK is available in “Households Below Average Income 1994/95 to 2006/07”. This annual report, which is a National Statistics publication, includes the number and proportion of individuals, children, working-age adults and pensioners with incomes below 50 per cent., 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. of median income, and the proportions in persistent poverty.
Regional data are presented as three-year averages, due to variability in single-year estimates. Regional data are only available on a consistent basis from 1994-95. A time series showing the proportion of children and pensioners in households with household incomes less than 60 per cent. of median including the periods requested are shown in table 4.14ts for children and table 6.8ts for pensioners of the “Households Below Average Income 1994/95 to 2006/07”, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
Information for working age adults for years where data are available is shown in the following table.
Proportion of working age adults in poverty in each English region in 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2004-05 to 2006-07, three-year average
Percentage of working age adults below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income
Region
Period
Before housing costs
After housing costs
North East
1997-98 to 1999-2000
21
26
2004-05 to 2006-07
18
22
North West
1997-98 to 1999-2000
17
22
2004-05 to 2006-07
17
21
Yorkshire and the Humber
1997-98 to 1999-2000
18
22
2004-05 to 2006-07
16
20
East Midlands
1997-98 to 1999-2000
15
18
2004-05 to 2006-07
16
20
West Midlands
1997-98 to 1999-2000
14
18
2004-05 to 2006-07
18
22
East of England
1997-98 to 1999-2000
11
15
2004-05 to 2006-07
12
17
London
1997-98 to 1999-2000
15
24
2004-05 to 2006-07
15
24
South East
1997-98 to 1999-2000
10
15
16 July 2008 : Column 475W
2004-05 to 2006-07
11
16
South West
1997-98 to 1999-2000
14
19
2004-05 to 2006-07
12
18
Notes:
1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income data.
2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response.
3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures is single financial years. Three sample years have been combined as regional single year estimates are subject to volatility.
4. Regional data is only available on a consistent basis from 1994-95, so no results are available for 1990.
5. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication “Households Below Average Income” series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or ‘equivalised’) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.
6. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors.
7. Figures have been presented on both a before housing cost and after housing cost basis. For before housing cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing cost they are.
8. Proportions of working age adults in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. Source:
Households Below Average Income, DWP.
Social Security Benefits: Newcastle upon Tyne
Jim Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in households in receipt of benefits in each local authority ward in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in 2008. [219096]
Mr. Timms:
The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for those claiming income support, jobseeker’s allowance, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance or pension credit, is in the table.
Number of children aged 0-15 dependent on a parent or guardian claiming one or more of income support, jobseeker’s allowance, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance or pension credit, city of Newcastle upon Tyne wards, April 2007
Number
Benwell
630
Blakelaw
770
Byker
815
Castle
205
Dene
290
Denton
530
Elswick
860
Fawdon
715
Fenham
645
Grange
220
Heaton
170
Jesmond
35
Kenton
720
Lemington
495
Monkchester
1,070
Moorside
590
Newburn
395
Sandyford
270
Scotswood
465
16 July 2008 : Column 476W
South Gosforth
40
Walker
930
Walkergate
470
West City
610
Westerhope
205
Wingrove
480
Woolsington
725
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
2. Data represents a snapshot in time of claimants on the computer system, and therefore excludes a very small number of cases that are held clerically.
3. The Department does not have complete information on child dependents on the benefit computer systems, therefore children have been merged on to income support, jobseeker’s allowance, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and pension credit claims from child benefit records with permission from HMRC. Source:
DWP Information Directorate.
Communities and Local Government
Capacity Building Programme
Mr. Pickles:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department has provided to each local authority under the Capacity Building programme to date. [217837]
John Healey:
Since April 2004, over 270 local authorities have received Capacity Building support from Communities and Local Government. The following tables show:
(a) the amount of direct support provided to each local authority, and
(b) resources made available to lead councils between April 2004 to March 2009 to support improvement partnerships and regional centres of excellence.
