HC Deb 05 November 1991 vol 198 c91W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners retiring in each of the past 11 years have retired with an occupational pension.

1. Miss Widdecombe

Such information as is available is given in the table. The definition of newly retired pensioners is the one normally used when quoting figures from the Family Expenditure Survey: single women aged 60–64, single men aged 65–69 and couples where the man is aged 65–69, in each respective year.

Proportion of Newly-retired Pensioner Units in receipt of an Occupational Pension, by Year.
Percentage in receipt
1979 50
1980 56
1981 54
1982 61
1983 57
1984 55
1985 60
1986 63
1987 64
1988 62

Notes:

Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

2. Pensioner units defined as single people of pensionable age or couples in which the man is of pensionable age.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer,Official Report, 27 March 1990, columns 161–63, concerning pensioners with occupational pensions using the 1988 Family Expenditure Survey.

Miss Widdecombe

The information requested is in the table.

Table 2: Pensioners with occupational pensions
Proportion with occupational pension (per cent) Mean amount received (£ per week) Median amount received (£ per week)
All pensioners 51 54.10 27.20
Single male pensioners 52 44.80 26.40
Single female pensioners 37 38.10 21.00
Pensioner couples 67 68.00 33.90
Single women 75 or over 33 32.70 18.40
Single men 75 or over 49 47.30 29.60
Couples where at least one partner is 75 or over 61 59.70 23.20

Notes:

1. Source: 1988 Family Expenditure Survey.

2. All figures refer to pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person of pensionable age or a couple in which the man is of pensionable age.

3. £s per week at 1988 prices.

4. Mean and median amounts are for those pensioners actually in receipt of occupational pensions.

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