Pensions (Income Support) (Hansard, 25 February 1986)

§ 30. Mr. Michie
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has of the number of pensioners that will be on income support in 2030 if the income support rates go up in line with earnings, on the assumptions given in the technical annex of the White Paper, Cmnd. 9691.

§ Mr. Newton
Given the major changes there have been since national assistance (the predecessor of the present supplementary benefit scheme) was established in 1948 and the many factors that determine who gets this form of

Number of deaths from selected diseases, all ages, males, females, England 1980–84

ICD (9) Number^* Cause of death year

Sex 1980 1981 1982 1983 ^†1984

162 Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung Males 25,306 24,886 24,547 25,055 24,581

Females 8,021 8,012 8,397 8,567 9,234

490–492 Bronchitis and emphysema Males 13,176 11,914 11,643 10,338 9,184

Females 4,781 4,495 4,572 4,072 3,882

410–414 Ischaemic heart disease Males 83,488 83,135 82,644 83,346 82,920

Females 60,592 61,887 61,591 62,744 64,218

^* International Classification of Diseases 9th revision.
† Figures for 1984 are not comparable with those for earlier years because of a coding change.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report, for the last five years for which records are available, the average age of those who died from (a) malignant neoplasm of
538W
benefit, any estimate of the position of pensioners in relation to income-related asistance in 2030 is very speculative. The Government are committed to a soundly-based social security system. With the expansion of occupational and personal pensions and the growing value of state pensions as more is paid out through the earnings-related scheme along with basic pension, the proportion of pensioners entitled to income support next century is expected to be very much smaller than when it begins. This assumes the value of basic pension relative to the illustrative income support rates in the technical annex to the White Paper Cmnd. 9691 is maintained.

Number of deaths from selected diseases, all ages, males, females, England 1980–84
ICD (9) Number^*	Cause of death		year
		Sex	1980	1981	1982	1983	^†1984
162	Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung	Males	25,306	24,886	24,547	25,055	24,581
		Females	8,021	8,012	8,397	8,567	9,234
490–492	Bronchitis and emphysema	Males	13,176	11,914	11,643	10,338	9,184
		Females	4,781	4,495	4,572	4,072	3,882
410–414	Ischaemic heart disease	Males	83,488	83,135	82,644	83,346	82,920
		Females	60,592	61,887	61,591	62,744	64,218