MP GORDON Prentice is shocked that the number of millionaires in the UK has soared under the Blair Government while East Lancashire remains a low-pay blackspot.
The Pendle MP has learnt that in 1999 -- the last year for which figures were available -- there were 180,000 millionaires in the UK compared to a mere 80,000 in 1985 under the Tories.
Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo told Mr Prentice the number of millionaires rose steadily during the 90s.
The figures are based on marketable wealth and include all assets excluding occupational and state pension rights.
Mr Prentice said:" The existence of the National Lottery alone cannot explain these figures. There is now a huge number of very wealthy people.
"My own Pendle constituency and elsewhere in East Lancashire are low pay blackspots with, I suspect, very few millionaires.
"The gulf between the rich and poor in Britain has widened and is widening and this should concern us all."
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