Answers will be sought within communities

From almost every statistic, Wales is poorer than England and the committee set out to discover why and what was being done to tackle the inequality.

Among the estates they toured was Maes Geirchen in Bangor, north Wales. It is home to nearly 3,000 and has the second lowest incomes statistics in Wales.

Local GP Dr Lyndon Miles said the social problems are plentiful.

"I've had patients come into the surgery in tears," he said.

"Drug dealers and drug addicts have been moved into premises nearby and my patients fear for their safety."

The MPs were shocked by poor housing conditions in places like Rhyl, also in north Wales, and by the effects of poverty in Blaenau Gwent, in south east Wales.

'Vital issue'

Committee member Julie Morgan - MP for Cardiff North - said: "I think housing is a vital issue.

"It upset me seeing some of the housing conditions people live in. But we were very encouraged by the spirit people have."

The Welsh Affairs Committee report is expected to recommend that high street banks should have to consult more before they pull out of deprived and isolated communities, a factor which can add to social deprivation.

We are pretty well convinced that without a technologically trained workforce, Pittsburgh would be in deep trouble

Professor Mo Coleman, University of Pittsburgh

The committee members are also likely to all for more secure, long-term funding for good community projects, which tackle the heart of the problem.