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29 Mar 2010 : Column 722W—continued
Poverty
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change has been in the number of (1) adults of working age in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated (a) before and (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the latest year for which figures are available; [322152]
(2) pensioners in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated (a) before and (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the latest year for which figures are available; [322153]
(3) children living in households with below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated (a) before and (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the latest year for which figures are available. [322154]
Helen Goodman [holding answer 12 March 2010]: The Government strongly believe that the best way to tackle adult poverty is through work. Those in work in the long term are better off than on benefits as training, promotion and career opportunities can enable many workers to attain a better standard of living for themselves and their families. We are therefore placing an increased priority on helping all groups of people, including disabled people and those with health conditions, lone parents and long term unemployed people get into rewarding and sustainable jobs.
Relative working age poverty (BHC) has increased over the last decade. However the risk of poverty for working age adults is still below that for children or pensioners (15 per cent. as compared with 23 per cent. for both children and pensioners) and the risk of persistent poverty for this group is also lower than average at 7 per cent. For this reason the Government have targeted additional financial support on families with children and pensioners.
However, the Government remain committed to ensuring employment and opportunity for all and believe that work, for those who can, remains the best and most sustainable route out of poverty. Over the last decade we have improved the gains to work with the introduction of the national minimum wage and the extension of tax credits and we have invested in employment support to ensure people are not written off. The Government are also supporting people through the difficult economic climate, setting aside £5 billion to help people back into work.
The Government's declared aim is to eradicate child poverty by 2020. Our determination to do so is as firm as ever and this is demonstrated by introducing the Child Poverty Bill. The Child Poverty Bill will bring new impetus to eradicating child poverty by 2020. It will provide a definition of success and sets a framework to guarantee that Government and their partners at national and local levels make a clear and vital contribution towards ending child poverty.
Between 1998-99 and 2007-08 some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty. Measures announced in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved.
Addressing pensioner poverty has been a priority for this Government. We have targeted help on the poorest pensioners, those who need it most, while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
We have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Targeted support, such as pension credit and additional funding for all pensioners has contributed to 900,000 fewer pensioners in relative poverty (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs) in 2007-08 than in 1998-99.
The available information is given in the table.
The latest available information covers 2007-08. Figures covering the UK are most commonly used. However,
for 1996-97, only information for Great Britain is available. This means the changes in the numbers of various groups below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income between 1996-97 and 2007-08 can only be calculated for Great Britain.
Poverty: Leeds
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) the general population, (b) children and (c) pensioners in Leeds North West constituency were living in poverty in each year since 1997. [322704]
Helen Goodman: The Government strongly believe that the best way to tackle poverty is through work. Those in work in the long term are better off than on benefits as training, promotion and career opportunities can enable many workers to attain a better standard of living for themselves and their families. We are therefore placing an increased priority on helping all groups of people, including disabled people and those with health conditions, lone parents and long-term unemployed people get into rewarding and sustainable jobs.
The Government's declared aim are to eradicate child poverty by 2020. Our determination to do so is as firm as ever and this is demonstrated by introducing the Child Poverty Bill. The Child Poverty Bill will bring new impetus to eradicating child poverty by 2020. It will provide a definition of success and sets a framework to guarantee that Government and their partners at national and local levels make a clear and vital contribution towards ending child poverty.
Between 1998-99 and 2007-08 some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty. Measures announced
in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved.
Addressing pensioner poverty has been a priority for this Government. We have targeted help on the poorest pensioners, those who need it most, while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
With the help of targeted support and additional funding there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty (after housing costs) in 2007-08 than in 1998-99.
Estimates of poverty, published in the Households Below Average Income series, only allow a breakdown of the overall number of people in poverty at Government office region level. Therefore, information for Leeds North East is not available, though figures relating to the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region are.
Poverty for all individuals is presented both before and after housing costs. Child poverty is presented before housing costs and pensioner poverty is presented after housing costs, in line with the relevant public service agreements. The most commonly used figures relate to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income for the three groups.
Three-year averages are used to report regional statistics as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. Figures are quoted rounded to the nearest percentage point. The percentage of all individuals, children and pensioners in the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region who have incomes below 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income is in the following tables.
| Proportion of individuals in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, before and after housing costs | ||
| Proportion of individuals (Percentage) | ||
| Period | Before housing costs | After housing costs |
| Proportion of children in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, before housing costs | |
| Period | Proportion of children (Percentage) |
| Proportion of pensioners in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, after housing costs | |
| Period | Proportion of pensioners (Percentage) |
| 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. 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. 5. The figures are based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development equivalisation factors. 6. 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. 7. Proportions have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. | |
A local child poverty indicator-including constituency level information-has been developed that captures the number and proportion of children in families in receipt of out of work benefits, or in receipt of tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 per cent. of median income. Details can be found via the HMRC website at:
The measure enables local partners to make an assessment of the level and geographical distribution of income deprivation in their area and focuses local partners on taking action to help raise family incomes.
Power Stations: Safety
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether her Department has assessed the relative levels of mortality among employees at (a) coal combustion, (b) gas combustion, (c) nuclear fission and (d) biomass combustion plants in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [323635]
Jonathan Shaw: No. The Health and Safety Executive has informed me that assessment of the relative levels of mortality among employees at such facilities has not been made.
Sellafield: Safety
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mortality rate was among employees at the nuclear processing site of Sellafield, Cumbria, in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [323636]
Jonathan Shaw: I have been informed that mortality data on employees is not available to the Health and Safety Executive in the format requested.
Studies published at intervals by others provide summary information on the mortality experience of Sellafield employees compared to that of the general population, and in relation to radiation exposure. These studies have shown that the overall mortality of Sellafield employees has been better than that of the general population with which they have been compared. However, when the mortality of those specifically exposed to radiation has been studied in relation to the radiation dose they have received it shows the expected pattern of increasing risk of various cancers with increasing radiation exposure.
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