HC Deb 10 November 1988 vol 140 cc294-5W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state(a) the total number of pensioners and (b) the number and percentage of those who have no income apart from the state pension and income support.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

As at 31 March 1988 there were nearly 9.8 million pensioners. In 1986 there were just under 7 million pensioner units (a pensioner unit is a single person over state pension age or a married couple where the husband is aged 65 or over) of whom approximately 1.4 million (just under 20 per cent.) had no income from earnings, occupational pensions or savings. This information is taken from the 1986 family expenditure survey, and is the latest available.