THE RISE OF THE SEVERELY MATERIALLY DEPRIVED: THE POOR GETTING - TopicsExpress

THE RISE OF THE SEVERELY MATERIALLY DEPRIVED: THE POOR GETTING POORER The 99,000 figure, in itself, already specifies that there has been a substantial increase in those falling in the ‘at risk of poverty’ category. However the other published figures give rise to even more serious concerns. I prefer not drum the figures for those thousands who cannot afford to go on holiday away from home as was the custom with a labour Opposition. But I will focus on the fact that the ‘severely materially deprived’, that is, those lacking basic needs, have increased by 2,000 in year 2013, which is by itself telling. 8,081, ( more ??) not affording a good meal with either meat, fish or chicken at least every other day and 6,283 (more ???) people finding it unaffordable to keep their house in adequate temperature are without doubt figures of grave concern This means that here we are not talking about people who regularly eat out in restaurants. These are the people for whom cost of living increases on essential products means more than a gentle pinch and hits them rather hard. These are the people that would have probably worried less about the across the board car licence cost and more about the efficiency and stability of public transport costs. These are the people who have been further marginalised and pushed farther to the sides in 2013.