§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the percentage of income spent on heating and on electricity by (a) single pensioners in receipt of state pension benefits, (b) married pensioners in receipt of state pension benefits, in (i) May 1979, (ii) May 1984 and (iii) the latest available date.
§ Mr. WhitneyThis information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the percentage of gross normal weekly income spent in 1979 and in 1983 (the latest date for which figures are available) on fuel light and power (including electricity), and, separately, on electricity alone, by single pensioner households and by married couple pensioner households respectively.
Expenditure as percentage of income Single pensioner household Married couple pensioner household 1979 1983 1979 1983 Fuel, light and power 10.5 10.8 7.6 7.8 Electricity 4.5 4.7 3.3 3.3 Sources: Family Expenditure Survey, 1979 and 1983.