I acknowledge that, but we are talking about earning, and if minimum income standards were available today and if there were a government figure, that would demonstrate clearly that the minimum wage was not enough to reach the 60 per cent. That is a worry as well in terms of...

I acknowledge that, but we are talking about earning, and if minimum income standards were available today and if there were a government figure, that would demonstrate clearly that the minimum wage was not enough to reach the 60 per cent. That is a worry as well in terms of...

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords who have taken part in the debate; it has been an important and significant period in the course of the Committee’s work. I have been particularly struck by the powerful medical evidence given by the noble Lord, Lord Rea, and the noble...

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords who have taken part in the debate; it has been an important and significant period in the course of the Committee’s work. I have been particularly struck by the powerful medical evidence given by the noble Lord, Lord Rea, and the noble...

My Lords, we come to an important part of the Bill. As we know, in Clause 8, under the heading "UK strategies", subsection (2) clarifies what the Government are to do in driving towards the 2010 and 2020 targets. Subsection (2) sets out a twin strategy. It looks at the...

My Lords, we come to an important part of the Bill. As we know, in Clause 8, under the heading "UK strategies", subsection (2) clarifies what the Government are to do in driving towards the 2010 and 2020 targets. Subsection (2) sets out a twin strategy. It looks at the...

27: Clause 8, page 4, line 11, at end insert ", and ( ) for the purpose of ensuring as far as possible that households with children in the United Kingdom have the minimum incomes necessary to sustain a healthy diet, other necessities, safety and wellbeing for those children"

27: Clause 8, page 4, line 11, at end insert ", and ( ) for the purpose of ensuring as far as possible that households with children in the United Kingdom have the minimum incomes necessary to sustain a healthy diet, other necessities, safety and wellbeing for those children"

The informal economy.

The informal economy.

I had spotted that earlier. However, that is two or three years out of date and, for a lot of other reasons, I think that minimum income standards are a much better tool with which to make more accurate policy decisions. I thank the Minister for his response and I...

I had spotted that earlier. However, that is two or three years out of date and, for a lot of other reasons, I think that minimum income standards are a much better tool with which to make more accurate policy decisions. I thank the Minister for his response and I...