Inequalities in income not changed for 10 years

Income inequalities have not reduced in the past decade despite Labour's attempts to pull people out of poverty, according to a new report on the well-being of British society.

The gap between the top 10 per cent of earners and the bottom 10 per cent has not closed, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

A report by the national statistician Karen Dunnell found that there were still many instances of inequality in Britain, despite a rise in average incomes.

Ms Dunnell's annual article on society, the first report published since the ONS gained formal independence from the Treasury, found that inequality persisted in infant mortality, suicide rates, mental health problems and education.

The report found that although the number of children living in poverty has been cut by 600,000 since 1996/97, there were still 2.8 million living in poverty in 2005/06, a slight rise on the previous year.