Figures reveal extent of poverty
By Mid Devon Gazette | Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 08:00
MID Devon has some of the lowest rates of child poverty in pockets of deprivation across the Westcountry, a recent study shows.
The Campaign to End Child Poverty says that children defined as living in poverty account for one in four in some areas of the South West.
Charity experts say this figure is expected to rise but the rate currently stands at 12 per cent in the Tiverton and Honiton Parliamentary constituency.
The figure for Central Devon, which takes in Crediton, is 11 per cent; East Devon, 10 per cent and North Devon, 14 per cent.
The study comes amid Government plans to change the way the measure is worked out by moving away from a purely income-derived figure.
Families earning less than 60 per cent of the median income of £26,000 before housing costs or claiming out-of-work benefits were classed as living in poverty.
Comments
"Families earning less than 60 per cent of the median income of £26,000 before housing costs or claiming out-of-work benefits were classed as living in poverty"
Of course there are some children living in poverty, but the definition used is suspect. If everyone suddenly got richer by the same amount, the level of "child poverty" would not change according to the formula used, whereas if average earning of people working went down, the amount of "child poverty" would go down! Until it is measured on an absolute scale these statistics should not be trusted.
By nick113 at 09:31 on 26/02/13
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