HC Deb 11 November 2003 vol 413 c172W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of pensioners paid income tax in each nation of the United Kingdom in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 2002–03, broken down by region. [137219]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 10 November 2003]: Estimates for the number and proportion of taxpaying pensioners for the years 1996–97 and 2002–03 by Government Office Region are given in the table.

Number of taxpaying

pensioners(numbers:

thousands)1

 Percentage of

pensioners paying

tax2
Region 1996–973 2002–034 1996–97 2002–03
England 3,200 4,100 36 45
North East 140 200 30 40
North West and Mersyside 420 530 34 42
Yorkshire and the Humber 280 370 30 40
East Midlands 250 330 33 42
West Midlands 290 410 30 42
East of England 380 460 39 44
London 410 530 38 52
South East 670 770 45 51
South West 400 510 40 48
Wales 200 270 35 46
Scotland 330 410 36 43
Northern Ireland 70 90 30 33
United Kingdom 3,800 4,900 36 45
1 Men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over.
2 Mid-year population estimates on the number of pensioners are

supplied by the Office for National Statictics.
3 This estimate is based upon the 1996–97 Survey of Personal

Incomes.
4 This estimate is based upon the 200–01 Survey of Personal

Incomes and is consistent with April 2003 budget.