§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners there have been in each year since 1979; and how many there are projected to be in each year to 2020, broken down by gender.[177558]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 8 June 2004:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of pensioners for each year from 1979 to 2020. (177558)
367WThe attached table shows the population over state pension age in England and Wales, broken down by gender. The present state pension age is 65 for males and 60 for females. This will remain the case until 2010, after which the state pension age for females will rise progressively to 65 between 2010 and 2020.
Mid 2002 population estimates are the latest available, therefore projections are shown for mid-2003 to mid-2020.
Estimated1 and projected2 mid-year population aged over the state pension age3 England and Wales, 1979–2020 Thousands Year Total Male Female 1979 8,696 2,907 5,789 1980 8,837 2,950 5,887 1981 8,928 2,970 5,958 1982 8,980 2,970 6,010 1983 8,993 2,947 6,046 1984 9,016 2,936 6,080 1985 9,117 3,014 6,103 1986 9,190 3,072 6,118 1987 9,250 3,123 6,127 1988 9,291 3,158 6,133 1989 9,337 3,192 6,145 1990 9,363 3,217 6,146 1991 9,400 3,248 6,152 1992 9,422 3,274 6,147 1993 9,435 3,297 6,138 1994 9,430 3,314 6,116 1995 9,449 3,340 6,109 1996 9,465 3,365 6,100 1997 9,484 3,389 6,095 1998 9,521 3,414 6,107 1999 9,543 3,433 6,110 2000 9,579 3,460 6,119 2001 9,627 3,505 6,122 2002 9,689 3,552 6,137 2003 9,780 3,603 6,177 2004 9,886 3,653 6,232 2005 9,999 3,703 6,295 2006 10,111 3,743 6,368 2007 10,310 3,797 6,513 2008 10,514 3,878 6,637 2009 10,705 3,969 6,737 2010 10,840 4,063 6,777 2011 10,864 4,162 6,702 2012 10,950 4,325 6,624 2013 11,014 4,464 6,550 2014 11,051 4,577 6,474 2015 11,078 4,676 6,402 2016 11,091 4,763 6,328 2017 11,104 4,846 6,259 2018 11,115 4,928 6,187 2019 11,126 5,009 6,117 2020 11,174 5,085 6,090 Sources: Office for National Statistics1 Government Actuary's Department2 1 Estimates for 1992–2002 2 Projections for 2003–2020 3 State pension age is presently 65 for males and 60 for females. This will remain the case until 2010, after which the pension age for females will rise progressively to 65 between 2010 and 2020.
§ Mr. George OsborneTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of people over 75 years with a personal pension who will take up the option in the proposed reform of pension taxation of an alternatively secured pension. [176823]
§ Ruth KellyThe proposed Alternatively Secured Pension (ASP) will be a way of providing a secure retirement income after age 75. It will be attractive to368W those with personal pensions who, on religious or other grounds, object to the pooling of mortality risk in an annuity. We do not anticipate significant numbers of people will choose this option.
§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of(a) the assets and (b) the liabilities of occupational pension schemes. [177547]
§ Ruth KellyThe Government does not monitor the level of liabilities in occupational pension schemes. The Government Actuaries Department's 11th Survey of occupational pension schemes for the year 2000 estimated total occupational scheme assets to be around £860 billion.
§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of corporation tax revenue forgone on employer contributions into pension schemes in each year since 1997–98; and what projections he has made for the future. [177561]
§ Ruth KellyNo estimates are available.