HC Deb 20 May 1991 vol 191 cc388-9W
Sir Ian Gilmour

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham of 29 January,Official Report, column 486, whether the weekly incomes on which the figures are based include or exclude (a) SERPS and (b) means-tested benefits.

Miss Widdecombe

The table in the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham on 29 January at column486 shows the number of married couple pensioners and the number of single pensioners with incomes in excess of basic state retirement pensions, net additional (SERPS) pension and graduated pension plus supplementary pensions, but not housing benefit.

Sir Ian Gilmour

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the answer given to the then hon. Member for Kensington on 14 July 1987,Official Report, column 451, showing the number of pensioners with gross weekly incomes other than the state basic pension of up to £5, £5 to £10, £10 to £15, £15 to £20, £20 to £30, £30 to £40, £40 to £50, £50 to £60, £60 to £70, £70 to £80, £80 to £90, £90 to £100, £100 to £110, £110 to £120, £120 to £ 130, £130 to £140. £140 to £150, £150 to £200, £250 to £300, £300 to £400, £400 to £500 and over £500, distinguishing between single and married pensioners.

Miss Widdecombe

The information requested is given in the table.

Numbers (thousands)
Married Single
Up to £5 130 610
£5 to £10 110 360
£10 to £15 120 450
£15 to £20 150 480
£20 to £30 330 990
£30 to £40 230 450
£40 to £50 180 220
£50 to £60 130 160
£60 to £70 120 110
£70 to £80 110 80
£80 to £90 120 100
£90 to £100 70 80
£100 to £110 50 60
£110 to £130 110 70
£130 to £150 100 50
£150 to £200 120 70
£200 and over 280 120

Note: The figures show respectively thousands of pensioner married couples and single pensioners. The income bands have been aggregated in some cases to provide a statistically adequate sample.

Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1987.

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