§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of all pensioners have no income from any source other than from state benefits;
(2) what is his estimate of the numbers of pensioners with savings of (a) less than £500, (b) less than £1,000, (c) less than £3,000, (d) less than £6,000, (e) less than £10,000, (f) less than £20,000 and (g) £20,000 or over.
§ Mr. GrocottTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the percentage of pensioners having an income below 80 per cent. of average earnings; and what was the corresponding figure in 1979.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIn 1986 just under 20 per cent. of all pensioner tax units1 received income only from state benefits, compared with 24 per cent. in 1979.
I regret that information on levels of pensioner savings is not available in the form requested. In 1986 however approximately 70 per cent. of pensioner tax units1 had income from savings.
In 1986 approximately 85 per cent. of pensioner tax units1 had a total gross income below 80 per cent. of average male manual earnings. The corresponding figure in 1979 was 88 per cent.
1 A pensioner tax unit is a single person of pensionable age, or a married couple where the man is of pensionable age.
Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1986.