§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many United Kingdom retired people(a) overall and (b) as a proportion of the total retired population received weekly incomes from all sources above the average of those in work in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Miss WiddecombeIn 1987 approximately half a million (or eight per cent. of) retired pensioner units (ie married couples or singles) are estimated to have an income above the average for all benefit units with at least one working adult. It should be noted that between 1979 and 1987 the incomes of pensioners rose twice as fast as those of the rest of the population.
Note: Income has been equivalised to allow for differences in family size. Retired pensioner units are those where the head is over state pension age and works less than 16 hours per week. Other (non-retired) pensioner units are included with the benefit units containing at least one working adult. A benefit unit is a family group assessed for benefit ie singles or couples with or without children. The data source is the 1987 Family Expenditure Survey.