Work goes on elsewhere producing a so-called Minimum Income Standard (http://www.minimumincomestandard.org/2012_update.htm) which for 2012 'calculated' that a single person required was £192.59 a week after housing costs -- over 2.5 times the JSA rate. Obviously, this figures constituted a minimum way above the basic standard you suggested. For comparison, the arbitrary 60% of median household income 'poverty' line worked out at £125 a week after housing costs for a single person in 2010/11, £258 for a lone parent with two children, and £349 a week for a couple with two children.
Paul Ashton
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mel Bartley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Saturday, 30 March, 2013 10:18:09 PM
Subject: Re: Recent letter in Guardian
I should have pointed out that Prof Morris' minimum cost of a healthy life totalled almost exactly twice the current benefit level at the time (early 2000s). Arguing about income inequality is of course very important. Why should some people not have to worry about money at all while the vast majority do to one degree or another? Sent from my HTC
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Mel Bartley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Saturday, 30 March, 2013 8:14:53 PM
Subject: Re: Recent letter in Guardian
This is fascinating. There must be somewhere a costing of 'the basics' for say a mum and 2 children. Family Resources Survey? Understanding Society? Lets assume no cable TV, no booze or fags, no going out, no prepared meals, only basic mobile phone on pay as you go and no landline, no internet, no car, clothes and shoes all from cheapest shops, no holidays. Prof Gerry Morris worked out a 'minimum cost for healthy life' which was a bit like this but included 5 fruit and veg a day, a newspaper and one round in the pub per week. Anyone calculate what this would cost?
Sent from my HTC
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