HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 cc624-5W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's estimate of the number of women aged(a) 60 to 65, (b) 65 to 70, (c) 70 to 75, (d) 75 to 80 and (e) over 80 years who have access-to (i) only state benefits, (ii) state benefits and state earnings-related pension scheme, (iii) own occupational pensions, (iv) own private pensions and (v) benefits from deceased partners.

Mr. Arbuthnot

The available information is m the tables.

Table 1: Numbers of women pensioners with only state benefits, by age
Age 60 to 64 65 to 74 75 to 79 80 and over
Number 200,000 300,000 200,000 250,000

N.B: these figures are for benefit units so that the husband's income is taken into account for married women.

Table 2: Numbers of women pensioners with an Occupational Pension, by age
Age 60–64 65–69 70–74 75 and over
Number 500,000 650,000 600,000 550,000

Notes:

1. Due to sample sizes it has been necessary to merge age ranges from those requested.

2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 50,000, they are based on small sample sizes and should be treated with caution.

3. Estimates are derived from the 1992 family expenditure survey and the 1991 GAD survey of occupational pensions.

4. SERPS is a state benefit and is therefore included in table 1.

5. Information on the numbers of women receiving private pensions is not available.

6. Separate figures for women receiving occupational pensions and benefits by virtue of their deceased husbands are not available. They are included in the information in table 2.