HC Deb 12 January 1988 vol 125 cc241-2W
37. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those persons retiring now have a second or third income.

Mr. Scott

The latest figures available are for 1985. At that time, over 85 per cent. of recently-retired pensioner households had income from sources other than state benefits—such as occupational pensions, investments or earnings.

48. Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase there has been in average pensioner incomes since 1979.

Mr. Scott

The average net income of a pensioner income unit (a single person over pension age or a couple where the husband is 65 or more) rose by 18 per cent., or 2.7 per cent. per year, in real terms between 1979 and 1985, twice as fast as that of the population as a whole.

(Source: Family Expenditure Survey.)