§ 26. Mr. DunnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many officially retired persons were in receipt of an occupational pension for the latest date for which figures are available, and on 1 April 1979; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Miss WiddecombeWe estimate that between 1979 and 1988, the most recent year for which information is available, the number of people over state pension age in receipt of income from an occupational pension rose from around 3 million to around 4.5 million. These estimates are based upon data from the 1979 and 1988 family expenditure surveys, and the 1979 and 1987 surveys of occupational pension schemes carried out by the Government Actuary.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish such comparable figures as he has available on provision for old age pensions in the United Kingdom and other EC countries, including health costs.
§ Miss WiddecombeDirect comparison of pension rates is not possible because most EC states unlike the United Kingdom, have wholly earnings-related pension schemes. Meaningful comparisons can only be made when comparing whole benefit packages available to pensioners.
The Department recently completed a comparative exercise of six member states using data supplied by an independent firm of actuaries. The exercise indicated, that when factors such as safety net provision and health care are taken into account, British pensioners who previously had been on low earnings arc better off than those in Germany, France, Italy and Spain, and only just behind those in the Netherlands.
§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the income of pensioners.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe total average income of pensioners has increased by about one third since 1979. This is over five times as fast as it increased between 1974 and 1979.