Letter: Tory squeeze on the poor

Sir: Your leading article of 16 April tells us that the poor may not be significantly worse off in real terms than in 1979. That is too bland by far. Between 1979 and 1994 the income of the bottom 10 per cent fell by 13 per cent in real terms. The income of the top 10 per cent rose by 65 per cent.

Less than 8 per cent of children lived in families on means-tested benefits in 1979. Now 25 per cent of children live in families claiming Income Support and over 10 per cent live in families claiming Family Credit. It is estimated that Income Support for a family of four including two young children is about pounds 35 a week below the amount needed to provide adequate food, clothing, fuel, transport and other necessities. The Low Income Project Team report of the Government's Nutrition Task Force reports that for many people a healthy diet is beyond their means.

The Commission on Social Justice showed that the poor are dying younger now than in 1981. The rich are living longer. The British Medical Journal reported in February this year that professional workers could now expect to live over five years longer than unskilled manual workers whose life expectancy has diminished. The reasons given are stress, inadequate health care and inadequate diet. It all adds up to "the poor are significantly worse off in real terms now than in 1979".

The Rev PAUL NICOLSON

Chairman

Zacchaeus Trust

Turville, Buckinghamshire