§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many retirement pensioners are in receipt of an occupational pension; and what is the average weekly income from occupational pensions.
§ Mr. Peter LloydApproximately 3.4 million pensioner tax units1 were in receipt of an occupational pension in 1986; the average weekly amount was £39.54.
Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1986.
1A pensioner tax unit is a single pensioner over state pension age or a couple where the man is over state pension age.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of (i) all pensioners, (ii) single male pensioners, (iii) single female pensioners, (iv) pensioner couples, (v) single women aged 75 years or over, (vi) single men aged 75 years or over and (vii) couples where at least one partner is aged 75 years or over, are in receipt of an occupational pension; and, for each group, what is the average amount received.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information requested is as follows:
Proportion of pensioner tax units1 with occupational pensions percentage Average weekly amount received2 £ All pensioners 50 39.43 Single males 55 32.20 Single females 38 27.66 Pensioner couples 65 50.79 Single women aged 75 and over 31 27.60 Single men aged 75 and over 50 31.12 Couples where at least one partner is aged 75 and over 42 36.73 Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1986.
1 A tax unit is a single person of pensionable age or a couple where the man is of pensionable age.
2 Average amounts are based on the number of pensioners actually in receipt of occupational pensions.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of (i) all pensioners and (ii) newly retired pensioners have neither a state additional pension nor an occupational pension.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI regret that the information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is (i) the total number and (ii) the proportion of(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples who are in receipt of income support;
(2) what is (i) the total number and (ii) the proportion of single pensioners aged (a) 75 years and over and (b) 80 years and over who are in receipt of income support;
(3) what is (i) the total number and (ii) the proportion of pensioner couples aged (a) 75 years and over and (b) 80 years and over who are in receipt of income support.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information requested is as follows:590W
Total numbers in 000's Proportion All pensioners Single 1,340 27 Couples 335 9 Pensioners 75 and over Single 735 31 Couples 100 13 Pensioners 80 and over Single 435 31 Couples 40 13 Notes:
- 1. For the purpose of this table pensioners are defined as those in receipt of a pensioner premium.
- 2. Proportions are those in receipt of Income Support as a percentage of total pensioner units within the group.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is (i) the total number and (ii) the proportion of(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples who are in receipt of housing benefit.
§ Mr. Peter LloydSpecial arrangements have been made with the Department of Employment's claimant adviser service for family credit claims made by families of people assisted into work by them to be dealt with through a streamlined procedure. The target is for 90 per cent. of these claims to be cleared within five working days. This target is being met and 95 per cent. are cleared within 10 working days. Other claimants resuming work after claiming income support are sent a specially marked family credit claim form so that, if necessary, their claims can be given priority. The target is to clear these claims, as other family credit claims, in an average of 18 working days. In November a clearance rate of just under 23 days was achieved.
§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from pensioners' organisations about the effect on their pensions of recent changes in the financial climate.
§ Mr. Peter LloydSince the beginning of October we have received 18 such representations.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of gross national product is devoted to payments to pensioners.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI regret that the information is not available in the form requested. Social security expenditure on the elderly is approximately 5 per cent. of GDP.