§ 15. Mrs. RoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has of the number of pensioners who own their own homes and have repaid their mortgage.
§ Mr. HagueOur latest estimates are for 1990–91 and show that 3.3 million pensioner units owned their own homes and had paid off their mortgages in full.
§ Mrs. RoeI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that more than 75 per cent. of pensioner homes now have central heating, compared with less than 50 per cent. in 1979, and that almost 90 per cent. of pensioner homes have a telephone, compared with only 50 per cent. in 1979? Does not that show an increase in the standard of living of pensioners under this Government?
§ Mr. HagueMy hon. Friend points to some important statistics, which are evidence of the way in which pensioners' living standards have improved, on average, over the past 14 years. She could similarly have pointed to the large increase in the proportion of pensioner households that own a car. All that evidence points in the same way.