HC Deb 15 April 1991 vol 189 cc91-2W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further help he will give to people past retirement age who rely on state benefits as their sole source of income.

Miss Widdecombe

As a proportion of all pensioners, the number of people past state pension age living solely on state benefits, including those for disability, fell from 23 per cent. in 1979 to 16 per cent. in 1987. All pensioners' benefits are regularly uprated. In addition, income support and other income-related benefits for elderly people have recently been increased by more than the normal uprating index.