Scotland
Lacking essentials
Key points
- Many people on low incomes say that they cannot afford selected essential items or activities - but so do quite a lot of people on average incomes.
- See the UK indicator on lacking essential items.
Graph 1: By item/activity
View Graph as PDF Right click to save large version of Graph as PNG
Definitions and data sources
The graph looks at the proportion of households who 'do not have because they cannot afford' particular kinds of 'essential' items and activities, with the data shown separately for households in the poorest fifth and for households on average incomes. 'Do not have because they cannot afford' means that the households lacks the item/activity due to hardship rather than choice. The graph provides an analysis of the 2005/06 Family Resources Survey (FRS). Household income is disposable household income after deducting housing costs, where the income has been equivalised (adjusted) to account for differences in household size and composition.
Overall adequacy of the indicator: limited. The data is subjective and, as illustrated in the first graph, many households with average incomes nevertheless say that they cannot afford essential items/activities.