§ Mr. Andrew MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and how many women have deferred their state pension on reaching retirement age; and for how many years.
§ Mr. MajorAn estimated 100,000 men and women over minimum pension age are at present deferring retirement. More precise information concerning those currently deferring is not available.
Information about deferment by existing pensioners is held in the form requested only for new awards of retirement pension. The table shows total pension awards with increases for deferment in the six months to 31 March 19861 2.
Period of deferment Men Category A women3 Category ABL women with increases to category A pension4 Less than 1 year 4,760 3,390 160 1–2 years 2,080 2,870 — 2–3 years 1,250 2,160 — 3–4 years 1,010 1,750 10 4–5 years 4,160 5,040 870
District Persons of retirement age, mid.1985 Persons of retirement age, 1981 census Males Females Persons Married persons Single males Single females thousands thousands thousands thousands per cent. thousands per cent. thousands per cent. Blackburn 7.6 16.6 24.2 12.5 50.9 0.6 7.6 2.0 11.9 Blackpool 11.8 25.6 37.4 19.4 51.7 0.9 7.1 2.8 10.9 Burnley 5.3 11.0 16.3 8.9 52.1 0.4 6.8 11 100 Chorley 4.5 9.6 14.1 7.5 54.4 0.3 7.5 10 10.4 Fylde 5.6 11.8 17.4 9.0 53.3 0.3 5.5 1.5 13.3 Hyndburn 4.8 10.1 14.9 7.8 53.0 0.3 6.8 1.0 10.4 Lancaster 9.4 19.8 29.2 15.0 52.6 0.7 7.8 2.5 13.0 Pendle 5.6 11.6 17.2 9.0 53.2 0.4 6.2 1.1 9.9 Preston 7.7 16.1 23.8 11.4 49.0 0.8 11.3 2.1 13.1 Ribble Valley 3.3 6.6 9.9 4.9 51.5 0.4 13.4 1.1 16.9 Rossendale 3.4 7.8 11.2 5.7 51.2 0.3 7.3 0.9 11.9 South Ribble 4.9 10.1 15.0 8.1 57.5 0.2 5.3 0.8 8.6 West Lancashire 5.2 10.4 15.6 8.1 54.7 0.3 7.0 1.1 10.7 Wyre 8.3 16.4 24.7 13.5 57.8 0.4 5.2 1.5 9.7