Poverty

Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 16 July 2008.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Karen Buck Karen Buck Labour, Regent's Park and Kensington North

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.

Photo of Stephen Timms Stephen Timms Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) (Employment and Welfare Reform)

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
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.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes0 people think so

No1 person thinks not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.