§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the total of households in the United Kingdom; and what proportion there are on means-tested benefits; [24607]
(2) how many pensioner households there are in the United Kingdom; and what proportion there are on means-tested benefits. [24606]
§ Mr. Burt[holding answer 16 May 1995]: The information requested is not available for households and has therefore been provided for benefit units. A benefit unit is defined as a single person or a couple, with or without children. There may be more than one benefit unit within a household. Information is available only for Great Britain.
The available information is in the table.
Benefit units (Great Britain)—totals and proportion receiving an income-related benefit Total Pensioners Benefit units (millions) 29.5 8.6 Proportion of benefit units receiving an income-related benefit 29 per cent. 40 per cent. Notes:
1. People may be in receipt of more than one income-related benefit. Overlap between benefits has been taken into account.
2. Pensioners have been defined as those eligible for the income support pensioner premiums, that is, where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 or over.
3. Information is for May 1993, the latest date for which figures are available for all benefits.
Source:
Income support annual statistical inquiry, 5 per cent, sample Family credit statistical system, 5 per cent, sample of awards made Disability working allowance statistical system, 100 per cent, count Housing benefit/council tax benefit MIS annual 1 per cent, sample Family expenditure survey