§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentages of(a) pensioners, (b) households with children and (c) households without children who (i) are currently in the lowest income decile and (ii) were in that decile for 10, 20 and 30 years previously. [112160]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
Percentage of individuals in each family type in the bottom decile Including the self-employed Excluding the self-employed BHC AHC BHC AHC 1979 Pensioners 22 19 23 21 Families with children 9 10 9 9 Families without children 5 6 5 6 1988–89 Pensioners 14 8 15 9 Families with children 11 12 11 12 Families without children 7 8 7 9 1997–98 Pensioners 11 6 12 6 Families with children 12 12 11 12 Families without children 8 10 7 9 Notes:
1. Information is derived from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sets. 1979 is the earliest year for which DSS statistics are available.
2. Estimates for 1979 and 1988–89 are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and relate to the United Kingdom. Estimates for 1997–98 are taken from the Family Resources Survey and relate to Great Britain. All estimates are subject to sampling error. Results for individual years are sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition; the picture of changes over time is generally not sensitive to this.
3. Individuals are classified by the family types in which they live. Pensioners are here defined as a single person is of State pension age or over, or a couple where the man is of State pension age or over. A child is defined as an individual aged under 16 or an unmarried 16 to 18-year-old on a course up to and including 'A' levels or 'Highers' in Scotland.
4. The estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs and After Housing Costs in line with HBAI conventions. Figures are also provided including and excluding the self-employed reflecting concerns over the accuracy of income information for the self-employed at the bottom of the income distribution. All figures for the bottom decile should be treated with caution; the bottom decile of reported incomes cannot safely be construed as the bottom decile of living standards.
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the proportions of pensioners, unemployed, sick and disabled, single parents who compose the lowest decile in the distribution of income; and if he will list the equivalent data for 10, 20 and 30 years previously. [112330]
356W
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is in the table.
The composition of the lowest decile of the income distribution based on available households below average income (HBAI) data
percentage of bottom decile whose family type/economic status is:
Including the self-employed Excluding the self-employed BHC AHC BHC AHC 1979 Pensioners 36 31 40 36 Head or spouse unemployed 15 16 17 17 Sick and disabled 8 8 8 9 Single with children 9 9 10 9 1988–89 Pensioners 23 14 28 17 Head or spouse unemployed 27 30 31 35 Sick and disabled 6 5 7 6 Single with children 9 10 11 12 1997–98 Pensioners 19 9 23 11 Head or spouse unemployed 18 23 21 27 Sick and disabled 5 4 5 5 Single with children 13 14 15 18 Notes:
1. Information is derived from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sets. 1979 is the earliest year for which DSS statistics are available.
2. Estimates for 1979 and 1988–89 are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and relate to the United Kingdom. Estimates for 1997–98 are taken from the Family Resources Survey and relate to Great Britain. All estimates are subject to sampling error. Results for individual years are sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition; the picture of changes over time is generally not sensitive to this.
3. Individuals are classified by the family types in which they live and/or their economic status. Families may belong to more than one group. Pensioners are here defined as a single person who is of State pension age or over, or a couple where the man is of State pension age or over. A child is defined as an individual aged under 16 or an unmarried 16 to 18-year-old on a course up to and including 'A' levels or 'Highers' in Scotland. The sick and disabled in this analysis are those in receipt of at least one of the following benefits relevant to the period: invalidity benefit, incapacity benefit, disability living allowance, disability working allowance; war disability pension, attendance allowance, industrial injuries disablement benefit, mobility allowance, severe disability allowance, statutory sick pay and sickness benefit.
4. The estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs and After Housing Costs in line with HBAI conventions. Figures are also provided including and excluding the self-employed reflecting concerns over the accuracy of income information for the self-employed at the bottom of the income distribution. All figures for the bottom decile should be treated with caution; the bottom decile of reported incomes cannot safely be construed as the bottom decile of living standards.