ed and sick and increasing numbers of one parent families. A survey in 1992/93 found that 25% of the population i.e. 14.1 million people were living in poverty of which most were of ethnic groups, women or lower class. Many of these people were unemployed, on a state pension or in low paid part time work. This led to the conclusion that poverty was mainly caused by three factors. The three factors are access to job market, cost of living (extras e.g. children) and poor policies to deal with them. Poverty has far reaching effects on the health of the nation as was shown during the wars. Poverty and health are definitely linked and not only are the poor more likely to suffer from ill health and premature death, but poor health and disability are themselves recognised as causes of poverty. Surveys have shown that the majority of people regard the poor as being responsible for their own poverty and are suspicious of those who live for free on government handouts. Many people believe that those on welfare could find
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