§ 24. Sir Michael NeubertTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households had(a) a fridge, (b) a car, (c) a freezer, (d) a telephone and (e) a television in 1979; and how many do today. [39708]
§ Mr. HealdIn 1979, 57 per cent. of pensioners were in households with a telephone; by 1992–93 this figure had risen to 93 per cent. There were rises from 88 per cent. to 99 per cent. for ownership of fridges; 32 per cent. to 78 per cent. for freezers or fridge freezers; and 34 per cent. to 50 per cent. for cars or vans. The proportion with televisions rose from 96 per cent. in 1979 to virtually 100 per cent. in the 1990s.