§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of pensioners who are in receipt of income support.
§ Miss WiddecombeI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 5 November at column 82.
There are about 1.4 million pensioners in receipt of income support where "pensioners" is taken to mean 144W income support claimants who also receive retirement pension. The number is about 1.7 million if the definition is taken as income support claimants aged 60 or over.
Source: 1990 Annual Statistical Enquiry.