HC Deb 05 November 2002 vol 392 c199W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have opted to defer receiving their basic state pension in each year since 1988; and what the average length of time is for which people have chosen to defer their pension. [78334]

Mr. McCartney

The information is not available in the format requested that around three per cent of people who reached state pension age five years ago deferred claiming their basic state pension. On average, these individuals deferred their basic state pension for almost two years.

Notes:

  1. 1. Estimates are based on the latest March 2002 RP admin data and the Government Actuary's Department mid-year population estimates.
  2. 2. Figures are for Great Britain