HC Deb 08 March 1985 vol 74 cc642-3W
2024. Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current ratio of pensioners in Scotland to people of working age; and what assumptions he makes about the ratio in (a) 1994, (b) 2004 and (c)

Mr. Whitney

The information as requested is not available. Based on the 1981 population projections, it is estimated that the numbers of adults of working age and persons of pension age in Great Britain will be as follows:

Year Adults of working age (thousands) Persons of pension age (thousands) Ratio of A to B
1984–85 33,372 9,977 3.3:1
1995–96 33,647 10,174 3.3:1
2005–06 34,113 10,139 3.4:1
2025–26 33,636 12,344 2.7:1

Source: "Population, Pension Costs and Pensioners' Incomes" HMSO 1984 Table 1

Mr. Wheeler

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the reply to the hon. Member for Westminster, North on 13 April 1984, Official Report, column 406, concerning measures introduced or improved since 1979 to increase the well-being of pensioners.

Mr. Whitney

Since April 1984 the Government have continued to promote the well-being of pensioners. In November 1984 we uprated the retirement pension by 5.1 per cent. This means that between November 1978 and November 1984 the rate of the retirement pension went up by 83.6 per cent., whereas the rise in the retail prices index during this period was only 77.2 per cent. This more than honours our pledge to maintain the real value of retirement pensions.

We have continued to keep down the rate of inflation, thus protecting the value of savings, benefits and non-index linked occupational pensions.

We are now spending more than ever on help with heating costs—an estimated £400 million in 1984–85. Some 1.5 million pensioner householders are amongst those who benefit from these heating additions, which have increased by some 20 per cent. in real terms between November 1978 and November 1984. In November 1984 we extended heating additions to include all supplementary pensioner householders aged 65 or over and gave higher rate heating additions worth £5.20 a week to all those aged 85 and over. It is now estimated that over 90 per cent. of supplementary pensioner householders get heating additions.

At present married women who qualify for the over 80s non-contributory retirement pension are paid at a lower rate than men and single women. The Social Security Bill provides for the abolition of this lower rate and to pay everyone equally from November 1985.

From November 1984 periods after people reach age 80 have counted towards the 10-year residence test for the over 80s non-contributory retirement pension. Before that date people entering, or returning, to the United Kingdom after the age of 70 were usually unable to qualify, no matter how long they lived in this country thereafter.

The inquiry into provision for retirement has now finished its work and Ministers expect to publish their proposals in the next few months.