§ Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married couples and how many single persons currently draw retirement pension.
§ Mr. DeakinsI regret that the information is not available in the form requested. However, in November 1977, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 8,440,000 retirement pensioners. This total was made up as follows:
Men 3,000,000 Women, including married women and widows, entitled to retirement pension on their own contributions 1,920,000 Wives entitled to retirement pension on their husbands' contributions 1,734,000 Widows entitled to retirement pension on their husbands' contributions 1,786,000