Poverty in the UK … the numbers

• In 2003/04, 12 million people in Great Britain were living in poverty (as measured by the Government).

• The number of children living in poverty was 3½ million in 2003/04.

• 5½ million adults were paid less than £6.50 per hour in 2004.

• Children from manual social backgrounds are 1½ times more likely to die as infants than children from non-manual social backgrounds.

• People living in the poorest areas of the country can expect to live 10 years less than those in the richest.

Source: www.poverty.org.uk and www.bbc.com