§ Mr. GrieveTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners were counted among the poorest 10 per cent. of the population in each year since 1978. [10843]
§ Mr. DenhamWe believe that all pensioners should share fairly in the increasing prosperity of the nation. Our first task in the review of pensions will be to reach a consensus on the long term and avoid the twists and turns in pensions policy we have seen in the last 20 years.
Information is available for the lowest decile of the income distribution for the years shown in the table:
107W
Per cent. Year Before housing costs After housing cost 1979 22 19 1981 12 9 1987 12 8 1988–89 14 8 1990–91 12 6 1991–92 11 5
Per cent. Year Before housing costs After housing cost 1992–93 9 5 1993–94 9 4 Notes:
1. For 1988–89 to 1992–93 the information is provided for two calendar years combined; 1993–94 represents the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95 combined.
2. The reply provides information for those in the bottom decile of the income distribution but these people may not be the poorest under other definitions.
Source:
Households below average income.
§ Mr. GrieveTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the real terms increase in average incomes of pensioners before housing costs between 1979 and the most recent year for which figures are available; and how this compares with the increase in incomes for the population as a whole. [10841]
§ Mr. DenhamWe believe that all pensioners should share fairly in rising national prosperity and that public finances should be both sustainable and affordable. We are examining the means of delivering more automatic help to the poorest pensioners.
Between 1979 and 1993–94, the average income of pensioners, before housing costs, rose by around 47 per cent. in real terms compared with a rise of 39 per cent. for the population as a whole.
Source:
Households below average income datasets; 1993–94 is the latest period for which data are available. Figures for 1993–94 are for two financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95 combined; figures for 1979 are based on a single calendar year.
Note:
Pensioners have been defined as benefit units headed by a single adult of state pension age or over and benefit units headed by a couple where the man is of state pension age or over.
§ Mr. GrieveTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioners retired in(a) 1978–79 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available presently have incomes other than state benefits. [10846]
§ Mr. DenhamThe available information is contained in table 8 of "The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95", a copy of which is available in the Library.