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The need for more accurate data on the extent of child poverty in the Isle of Man has become apparent following the response by the Isle of Man Treasury Minister, Allan Bell MHK, to a question asked in the Manx parliament.
The Minister responding to a query for South Douglas member, Bill Malarkey MHK, said that he estimated that in 2006/07 approximately 14% of children were living in households with income less than 60 per cent of median household income for the Island. The Minister pointed out he could not respond to the much more specific query from Mr Malarkey (who had asked for figures for each of the past five years of those households whose incomes fell below 60% of median income) because the only data available to Treasury which could be of use to respond to this question was derived from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), held every ten years.
The news that such a high number (in percentage terms) of households and children live at levels of comparative poverty will come as some surprise on an Island whose government has annually trumpeted prosperity and economic success. There is also sometimes a more widely held belief that the nature of the economic 'good times' that the Island is enjoying are being shared by all.
However, the warning signs were evident. Ireland, whose economy in many ways parallels that in Mann (it has enjoyed even higher levels of prosperity and growth) was revealed to have a major child poverty problem some years ago. At the time the Celtic League did speculate that the situation might be mirrored in the Isle of Man (see below):
'IRELAND'S POVERTY SURVEY PROBABLY MIRRORED IN OTHER CELTIC COUNTRIES' (January 2005)
Allan Bell did outline aspirations in response to the League some years ago in which he indicated income distribution was a social goal. Sadly it appears it is a goal still not attained (see below):
'WEALTH DISTRIBUTION - A SOCIAL GOAL SAYS MINISTER' (August 2004)
We now have, from both external and internal sources, accurate data on the situation vis a vis income distribution, poverty and child poverty for Scotland, Ireland (North and South) and Wales.
The Isle of Man is a data 'black-spot' in relation to this vital information. The Manx government should make the collation and publication of accurate data for Mann an absolute priority.
In a community as wealthy and successful as the Isle of Man is no child should live in comparative poverty.
See also related articles on Celtic News at:
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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
01/02/08
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