Parliamentary Questions - Written Replies

WEALTH GAP: The income of the top 20 per cent of households jumped 40 per cent in the 10 years after 1979 while that of the poorest 10 per cent fell by 6 per cent, Alistair Burt, Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, told Jean Corston (Lab, Bristol E). At 1992 prices, the bottom 10 per cent had an income of pounds 70 a week in 1979, but pounds 66 by 1989. For the top 20 per cent, average income rose from pounds 253 a week to pounds 355.

HELP FOR FELTHAM: A working group has been set up to help improve the regime at Feltham remand centre, west London, where four young inmates committed suicide last year, the Home Office Minister of State, Peter Lloyd, said.