§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households had a(a) fridge, (b) car, (c) freezer, (d) telephone and (e) television in 1981; and how many have these items currently. [33143]
§ Mr. HealdThe latest available information is for 1992–93. The proportion of pensioners with access to these consumer durables for 1981 and 1992–93 respectively are as follows: a fridge 92 per cent. and 99 per cent.; a car or van 37 per cent. and 50 per cent.; a freezer 34 per cent. and 78 per cent.; a telephone 67 per cent. and 93 per cent. The 1992–93 figures did not record televisions, but 96 per cent. of pensioners had access to a television in 1981.
Source:
Households below average income, 1981 and 1992–93.
115W