HC Deb 05 February 1990 vol 166 cc515-6W
15. Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much pensioners' incomes from savings changed over the period(a) 1974 to 1979 and (b) 1979 to date.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) and for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell).

19. Mr. Cormack

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much pensioners' incomes from occupational pensions have risen since 1979.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

A measure of this Government's success is that between 1979 and 1986 pensioners received a 56 per cent. increase in income from their occupational pensions.

45. Sir Anthony Meyer

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average income of a retired couple with savings just sufficient to disqualify them from all means-tested benefit including housing benefit.

Mr. Scott

A wide range of factors are involved in calculating income-related benefits and I regret it is not possible to give a precise answer to the question. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and cares to write to me I will respond.

50. Mr. Conway

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much pensioners' incomes from occupational pensions have risen since 1979.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The latest available information shows that pensioners' average total net incomes increased by 23 per cent. in real terms between 1979 and 1986. This compares very favourably with the previous Government's record when, between 1974 and 1979, previous average total net incomes rose by only 3 per cent. Increases in income from occupational pensions have contributed considerably to this improvement. Pensioners had experienced a 56 per cent. increase in real terms in the level of their occupational pension during this Government's first seven years of office.

Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

68. Mr. Amos

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much pensioners' incomes from savings changed over the period(a) 1974 to 1979 and (b) 1979 to date.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The latest available information shows that pensioners' average total net incomes increased by 23 per cent. in real terms between 1979 and 1986. This compares very favourably with the previous Government's record when, between 1974 and 1979, previous average total net incomes rose by only 3 per cent. Increases in incomes from savings have contributed considerably to this improvement. In 1986 a total of 70 per cent. of pensioners had income from savings. These pensioners had seen the value of their savings income increase in real terms by 64 per cent. during this Government's first seven years of office, whereas under the previous Labour Government between 1974 and 1979 savings fell by 16 per cent.

Mr. Jack

To ask the the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the value of income support and housing benefit paid to pensioners whose sole income in 1989 was the state pension.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I regret that the information requested for 1989 is not yet available. However, estimated expenditure in 1988–89 was £700 million for income support and £1,290 million for housing benefit. The housing benefit estimate includes retirement pensioners who were also receiving income support.

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