04a JSNA Appendix , item 5. PDF 6 MB - Lambeth Council

DRAFT
Do they enjoy access to sufficient income?
STATUS
• Average gross weekly earnings of employees in Lambeth is £537.3 48 , this
compares to £558.9 and £613.3 for neighbouring boroughs of Southwark
and Wandsworth respectively and the London average of £553.3.
• The 2001 Census showed that one-quarter (17,000 out of 67,000) of
Lambeth’s under-19s live in areas of income deprivation. 49
• 51% of Inner London children live in poverty 50 compared with 41% across
London and 28% nationwide. Borough level figures are not available but
Lambeth can be expected to exceed the Inner London figure. 51
• 23% of Lambeth residents surveyed (2007), felt the housing benefits service
was good or excellent compared with 21% across London and 22%
nationally. 20% of respondents said they actually used the service
compared with 13% for London and 18% nationally.
• The percentage of working age people on out of work benefits is16.5%. In
the worst performing neighbourhoods this increases to 27.7% (Q2 2007).
• Just over a third (36%) 52 of children in Lambeth live in families on key
benefits compared with 28% in London. Lambeth ranks as the 11th highest
rate for this nationally and 27th out of the 33 London boroughs.
• The number of people claiming incapacity benefits represents
approximately 7.1% of the working age population (London 6.1% and
nationally 7.2%). The number of people claiming incapacity benefits
allowance has fallen by 3%, a reduction of 390 claimants between
November 2006 and November 07.
• The number of people claiming lone parent benefits represents
approximately 4.0% of the total working age population (compared with
London 3.1% and nationally 2.0%). The total number of people claiming
lone parent benefits has decreased by 13% over the period November 2003
to 2007.
• 38% of secondary school pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is
the fifth highest proportion in England.
• The proportion of primary school pupils eligible for free school meals is
37.4%, which is the eighth highest proportion of primary school pupils
across England. 53
• Lambeth has the highest take-up nationally of the childcare element of
working family tax credit at 27% (compared with 11% for England).
SIGNIFICANT INEQUALITIES IDENTIFIED
• Vassall and Coldharbour wards display the highest working age benefit
claim rates within Lambeth with approximately 25% of the total working age
population claiming some form of working age benefit (i.e. incapacity
48 ONS annual survey of hours and earnings - resident analysis [2007]
49 This is the number of children and young people living in 10% most deprived Super Output Areas by Income
deprivation affecting children.
50 Households living in poverty subsist on an income 60% below the median household income. Calculation of
poverty rates control for geographic variations in house prices.
51 London Child Poverty Commission.
52 Government Office for London /DWP August 2008, based on 5% sample.
53 London Borough of Lambeth. Draft State of the Borough: The evidence base supporting the Sustainable
Community Strategy. 2008.
Lambeth JSNA – Preliminary Assessment
Version 4
October 2008
54