Results from the Family Budget Unit

What is the Family Budget Unit?

The Family Budget Unit is a unit of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at King's College London. It is an educational charity and private limited company, founded in 1987, with three objectives:

1. To advance the education of the public in all matters relating to comparative living standards and living costs throughout the United Kingdom
2. To carry out research into the economic requirements and consumer preferences of families of different composition, for each main component of a typical family budget
3. To publish the useful results of such work.

Apart from the many academics who contribute to the work of the Unit (see the referenced web sites), there are (at least) 2 notable names which appear elsewhere on this web site:

• Archy Kirkwood (Chairman of the House of Commons Social Security Select Committee, now Work and Pensions Select Committee): Director (unpaid), Family Budget Unit.
• Jonathan Bradshaw (Professor of Social Policy, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York): Trustee, Family Budget Unit.

The cost of children at LCA level

This table summarises the cost of children at LCA level - "Low Cost but Acceptable", defined as the poverty threshold. Summary including childcare at registered childminders. (October 2000. Amounts in £ per week).

"The LCA food baskets represent a pattern of consumption characteristic of households on low incomes in the UK, and are based on National Food Survey and Family Expenditure Survey data. They contain a balance of foods which will promote short- and long-term health in adults and children. They are based on Department of Health and Health Education Authority guidelines. And they refer to foods which are widely available, at low prices, using Sainsbury and KwikSave national price bases. It includes: Food, Housing, Clothing, Fuel, Personal care, Transport, Charitable donations, Household services, Leisure."

References

The Family Budget Unit submitted a major appendix to the Social Security Select Committee for the latter's report on the Integrated Child Credit.

APPENDIX 7 - Memorandum submitted by the Family Budget Unit (ICC 16)

(This comprised an introduction plus 2 "figures" and 8 "annexes", in all over 20 A4 pages).