§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of elderly people in Northern Ireland by five-year age groups and sex.
§ Mr. Chris PattenBased on the Registrar General's mid-year population estimates for 1983, the information is as follows:
Age Group Male Female Total 65–69 27,300 34,300 61,600 70–74 22,900 32,000 54,900 75–79 13,700 23,200 36,900 80–84 6,700 14,300 21,000 85+ 3,400 9,400 12,800
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of elderly people receiving pensions, housing benefits and/or other benefits in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe numbers of elderly people—women aged over 60 and men aged over 65 years—receiving pensions and other benefits in Northern Ireland at the latest convenient dates are as follows:
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe information is as follows:
579W
Revised weekly pre.payment charge Date Percentage increase 1 person dwelling 5/6 person dwelling 8 person dwelling £ £ £ January 1980 — 2.82 6.08 6.89 April 1980 45.0 4.31 8.86 10.30 October 1980 11.5 4.81 9.88 11.48 April 1981 14.5 5.51 11.31 13.14 October 1981 15.0 6.34 13.01 15.11 October 1982 7.5 6.82 13.99 16.24
Revised weekly pre.payment charge Date Percentage increase 1 person dwelling 5/6 person dwelling 8 person dwelling £ £ £ April 1983 13.5 7.15 14.66 17.01 October 1983 5.0 7.51 15.39 17.86 April 1984 4.4 7.84 16.07 18.65 The increase in April 1983 was achieved through an increase of 4.8 per cent. on the average weekly pre-payment charge and a reduction in the annual thermal allowance from 900 therms to 800 therms.
I am informed by the chairman of the Housing Executive that four weeks' notice of the increase was given to tenants on each occasion as required by the executive's tenancy agreement.