Originally published in 1974, this book provides a critique of official policy towards families with young children living on low incomes and looks in detail at some of the myths prevalent in the public debate – both political and academic – about the ‘cycle of deprivation’, a phrase coined by Sir Keith Joseph (British Politician, 1918-1994). One of these myths is that it is possible to provide, on a selective basis, the best services for the poorest members of the community. Anthe is that the poorest group is the one which is in most need of every kind of social service. A third is that the more generous provision of social services to areas with high concentrations of poor families can reduce tensions and conflicts between social groups. The author contends that these myths are being used to obscure the fact that the persistent force behind post-war social policy is none other than the spirit of the Poor Law.