§ Mir. WebbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many single(a) women and (b) men will reach the age of 60 years between 20 September and 25 December. [87602]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 16 December 2002:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of single women and single men who will reach the age of 60 years between 20 September and 25 December 2002. (87602)It is estimated that there will be 21,000 single women and 17,000 single men in England and Wales who will reach the age of 60 during this period. Single has been defined to include single (never married), widowed and divorced.These figures are estimates. They have been derived using interim revised national population projections produced by the Government Actuary's Department.Data from the Office for National Statistics on the pattern of births in 1942 indicates the proportion of the total number of 59-year-old men and women in 606W June 2002 who will reach the age of 60 between 20 September and 25 December 2002. Data from national population projections by marital status produced by the Government Actuary's Department have been used to estimate the proportion who are single.