By Noel Smith and Sue Middleton. The official UK poverty rate is calculated by point-in-time surveys made at intervals and the method assumes that the same households are in poverty at later dates. Using dynamic research the authors trace changes in the circumstances of the same households over time and plot movements in and out of poverty. This approach reveals that poverty is fluid and dynamic and it embraces a broad population whose experiences of poverty are diverse.

Schools in Wales have been told they could make an extra 20 million pounds a year available for education if they take steps to save money on buying everyday equipment such as stationery and photocopiers. Andrew Davies, the Welsh Assembly Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery is urging them to get better value.

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The Government’s facing a call from local authorities to clarify its position on allowing councils to charge for rubbish collections as a way of encouraging householders to recycle more. The plea from the Local Government Association came as the Government seemed to be defending its plans to allow ‘pay as you throw’ schemes in spite of reports that it had shelved the idea.

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