HC Deb 02 November 1993 vol 231 cc190-1W
Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Sir D. Knox) of 15 December 1992,Official Report, columns 150–51, relating to pensioners incomes, giving the most recently available figures.

Mr. Hague

Information is not available in the form requested. As with the earlier answer, the requested distribution was in some cases too detailed to give a reliable number of sample cases. Certain ranges have therefore been merged in order to ensure estimates are based on at least 20 sample cases. In addition, the nature of the survey techniques used in the family expenditure survey means that the separate incomes of husbands and wives within a couple cannot be identified reliably. The answer therefore categorises single people—male and female—and couples only. The available information is in the tables.

Weekly non-benefit income distribution—Pensioners Single Female Pensioners
£ in January 1991 prices
Thousands Income (£)
1,477 0–5
285 5–10
195 10–15
178 15–20
267 20–30
161 30–40
135 40–50
112 50–60
100 60–70
72 70–80
53 80–90
50 90–100
167 100–150
115 150–200
83 200–300
72 Over 300

Single Male Pensioners
£ in January 1991 prices
Thousands Income (£)
266 0–5
48 5–10
53 10–15
53 15–20
74 20–30
62 30–40
48 40–50
36 50–70
60 70–100
72 100–150
42 150–200
42 200–300
41 Over 300
Weekly non-benefit income distribution—Pensioners Couples (husband over pension age)
£ in January 1991 prices
Income (£) Thousands
0–5 472
5–10 130
10–15 89
15–20 91
20–30 181
30–40 160
40–50 120
50–60 113
60–70 79
70–80 92
80–90 88
90–100 86
100–150 285
150–200 184
200–300 198
300–400 109
400–500 61
Over 500 84

Source: Family expenditure surveys 1990–91.

Notes: The maximum amount of each category is rounded up to the nearest £1 for ease of reference, eg. where a category is shown as 10–20 it should read £10–£19.99.