§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the acquisition and ownership of consumer goods by pensioners in 1974, 1979 and 1990.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation on ownership of selected goods is given in the table. The data have been calculated using published data from the family expenditure survey. The year 1989 is the latest year for which these figures are currently available.
Percentage of pensioner households with goods 1974 1979 1989 Telephone 32.0 49.8 85.7 Central heating 31.9 43.2 70.1 Fridge 65.2 84.0 96.6 Washing machine 45.6 55.5 71.4 Television 89.5 94.1 98.0 Car 20.6 23.1 37.9 Note: This covers the following types of households: one adult retired households mainly dependent on state pensions; one man and one woman retired households mainly dependent on state pensions; other retired households containing one adult; other retired households containing one man and one woman.