§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing the proportion of the average income of a retirement pensioner which is taken up by food, fuel and light, transport, rates and taxation and rent, with the equivalent figures for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe following figures relate to single pensioner* households as reported in the Family Expenditure Survey.
Expenditure and other outgoings as a percentage of gross normal weekly income† 1977 1978 1979 1980 ║1981 Food 30.3 28.0 28.3 27.1 24.9 Fuel, light and power 12.4 11.7 12.5 11.3 12.6 Transport and vehicles 2.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 2.1 Rent and rates‡ 22.4 19.9 18.8 21.6 23.2 Income tax 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 Source: Annual Reports on the Family Expenditure Survey. * A pensioner household is one in which at least three-quarters of total income is derived from National Insurance retirement and similar pensions, including benefits paid in supplement to, or instead of, such pensions. † Income includes pensions, social security benefits, wages and salaries, and investment income. It also includes an imputed rent equivalent for accommodation which is owner-occupied or rent-free. ‡ Rents are net of rebates, but include an imputed rent equivalent for accommodation which is owner-occupied or rent-free. Rates are net of rebates and include both local authority and water rates. ≑ First three quarters only.