The government is committed to fighting inequality in society, says Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas.

In the House of Keys on Tuesday, Lawrie Hooper (Ramsey) asked Mr Thomas what the policy was on ’actively reducing disadvantages that may arise from socio-economic inequality’.

Mr Thomas said the Programme for Government included the policy statement: ’Ensure our welfare system is providing better defined and more appropriate support for people.’

He added: ’Also in the Programme for Government are a series of actions which will help to reduce disadvantage, which include a rent deposit protection scheme, modifying the access and eligibility criteria for social housing to prioritise those most in need and a policy on means testing.

’We have also committed to helping people get back to work with clearer support pathways and will investigate the option to introduce a living wage.’

Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) asked if there were any additional studies taking place.

The minister said: ’We have earnings surveys, we have a five-yearly income and expenditure survey. I remember, a couple of years ago, we had a fuel poverty survey which is published on the island.’

Following the Census, a white paper on policy responses would ’include chapters on income and other economic disadvantage that might be a factor in explaining what is going on in terms of migration and also other determinants of demography and population growth’.

The Manx National Economic Development Forum was investigating the ’twin-track economy’ and the living wage.

’I imagine you could argue that those last two elements are additional investigations,’ he said.

In this original version of this story and the report in the Courier we wrongly said that Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael) had asked the question. Apologies.