HC Deb 15 October 2002 vol 390 cc641-2W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; how many(a) men and (b) women reached state pension age in each year between 1995 and 2000 and (ii) are expected to reach state pension age in each year between 2006 and 2010. [74722]

Mr. McCartney

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

Table 1: Number of men and women reaching state pension age between 1995 and 2000.
Year Men Aged 65 Women Aged 60
1995 262,000 288,000
1996 265,000 294,000
1997 261,000 296,000
1998 252,000 301,000
1999 253,000 304,000
2000 260,000 299,000

Notes:

1. Figures are mid year estimates of men aged 65 and women aged 60 in the UK, rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Source:

1991 UK Census based annual mid-year population estimates, Office for National Statistics.

Table 2: Number of men and women reaching state pension age between 2006 and 2010.
Year Men Aged 65 Women Aged 60
2006 256,000 350,000
2007 277,000 447,000
2008 302,000 412,000
2009 317,000 386,000
2010 314,000 373,000

Notes:

1. Figures are mid year estimates of men aged 65 and women aged 60 in the UK, rounded to the nearest 1,000.

2. No account has been taken of the change in female state pension age in 2010.

Source:

The Government Actuary's mid-2000 based Population Projections.

Mr. Wiggin

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the possibility of making private and company pensions compulsory. [73767]

Mr. McCartney

Compulsion already exists in the pensions system. Most employees employed people are required to contribute to the Basic State Pension and, in the case of employees, to the State Second Pension unless they are contributing to a private pension and are contracted out of the state scheme.

We recognise the role pension providers play in encouraging individuals to save for a pension. The UK has a tradition of voluntary pension provision by employers and the implications of moving away from that would have to be considered fully before such a step was taken. We continue to believe that the best route for pension saving is via the employer and with the introduction of stakeholder pensions most employees have access to a good value pension at the workplace.