Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what change there has been in the proportion of (a) pensioners and (b) children living in low income households in the North East of England in the last 12 months.

Estimates of (a) pensioners and (b) children living in low income households in the North East of England are published in the National Statistics Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. These are calculated on a three-year average basis as single year estimates are too volatile from year to year.

In the North East, the proportion of pensioners with incomes below 60% of median equivalised income, After Housing Costs, rose by 1ppt to 13% between 2011/12 – 2013/14 and 2012/13 – 2014/15, while the proportion of children with incomes below 60% of median equivalised income, Before Housing Costs, rose by 1ppt to 19% between 2011/12 – 2013/14 and 2012/13 – 2014/15.

The government has also set out a new life chances approach that will include a set of indicators to measure progress in tackling the root causes of poverty such as worklessness, educational attainment and family stability.