HC Deb 01 March 1991 vol 186 cc661-2W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, column 264, if he will break down the benefits listed under (a) into (i) state pension and (ii) other state benefits, by category.

Miss Widdecombe

It is not possible to distinguish separately from the family expenditure survey the exact amount of retirement pension paid from the amount of income-related benefits. It is possible to separate out other benefits, mostly for disability, and these are presented in the following table.

Percentage of gross incomes Real terms increase Per cent.
Type of pensioners' income 1979 1987 1979–87
Retirement pension and income-related benefits 58 49 15
Other social security benefits 3 4 58

Source: Family expenditure survey.