HC Deb 09 March 1993 vol 220 c527W
Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give an estimate of the trend in pensioners' real income since 1979.

Miss Widdecombe

Between 1979 and 1989 the total net average income of pensioner units1 increased, in real terms, by 30 per cent. before housing costs are taken into account and by 37 per cent. after housing costs. Both single pensioners and pensioner couples enjoyed increases in their real net incomes of 29 per cent. before housing costs and 33 per cent. and 36 per cent. respectively after housing costs are taken into account.

Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1989.

Note:

1Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.