HC Deb 06 December 1994 vol 251 cc182-5W
Ms Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average equivalent household income at April 1994 prices for(a) the poorest 20 per cent. and (b) the richest 20 per cent. from the latest households below average income analysis, before and after housing costs, in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, according to economic status categories (i) single or couple self-employed, (ii) single, in full-time work, (iii) couple, both in full-time work, (iv) couple, one in full-time, one in part-time work, (v) couple, one in full-time work, one unemployed or not employed, (vi) couple, one or both in part-time work, (vii) single retired pensioner, (viii) couple, both retired pensioners, (ix) single, unemployed or non-employed, (x) couple, both unemployed or non-employed, (xi) three or more adults, all unemployed or not employed and (xii) others.

Mr. Burt

The information is provided in the tables. It should be noted that the results do not track the income of individuals over time but compare the average median income for each group in each year shown. Changes in the average for each group over the whole period —1979 to 1991–92—are more reliable than those over shorter periods.

Care should be taken in the use of these single estimates as some are based on a small number of cases. Estimates which are particularly uncertain are shown in brackets. These are based on a sample of less than 100 benefit units.

Median equivalised household income of bottom and top quintiles for selected groups (in £'s per week in April 1994 prices)
1979 Bottom 1979 Top 1981 Bottom 1981 Top 1987 Bottom 1987 Top
Before Housing Costs
Single or couple self-employed 3(91) 3(412) 92 414 89 522
Single in full-time work 143 328 140 348 163 462
Couple both in full-time work 187 378 172 374 202 500
Couple one in full-time work one in part-time work 132 277 127 294 154 379
Couple one in full-time work one unemployed or not employed 113 272 108 285 121 346
Couple one or both in part-time work 3(72) 3(243) 3(63) 3(260) 3(88) 3(335)
Single retired pensioner 91 227 96 231 99 269
Couple both retired pensioners 90 207 94 224 103 291
Single unemployed or non-employed 79 213 85 226 89 242
Couple both unemployed or non-employed 3(60) 3(168) 3(56) 3(148) 3(82) 3(174)
Others1 3(87) 3(242) 3(96) 3(261) 97 301
Three or more adults all unemployed or not employed2 3(58) 3(208) 3(85) 3(175) 3(79) 3(243)
After Housing Costs
Single or couple self-employed 3(75) 3(358) 74 388 61 458
Single in full-time work 125 301 122 314 140 420
Couple both in full-time work 158 324 149 328 172 430
Couple one in full-time work one in part-time work 110 241 108 258 129 334
Couple one in full-time work one unemployed or not employed 95 234 91 247 97 294
Couple one or both in part-time work 3(57) 3(217) 3(53) 3(230) 3(69) 3(311)
Single retired pensioner 83 213 86 222 88 276
Coupled both retired pensioners 75 188 81 205 88 274
Single unemployed or non-employed 63 190 69 203 66 210
Couple both unemployed or non-employed 3(39) 3(143) 3(43) 3(124) 3(56) 3(153)
Others1 3(75) 3(217) 3(76) 3(239) 75 290
Three or more adults all unemployed or not employed2 3(39) 3(145) 3(68) 3(157) 3(57) 3(160)
Notes:
1 This group includes singles in part-time work and some pensioners.
2 This group is selected on the basis of individuals in such households whereas all others are based on individuals in benefit units.
3 Bracketed figures are particularly uncertain as they are based on less than 100 samples benefit units. Ninety-five times in 100, the true value will lie within a given range. As an example, for the bottom quintile of single or couple self-employed in 1979 this will be £76 to £100, before housing costs, in April 1994 prices. For the bottom quintile of three or more adults all unemployed or not employed in 1979 the range is £40 to £94, before housing costs, in April 1994 prices.

Median equivalised household income of bottom and top quintiles for selected groups in (£'s per week in April 1994 prices)
1988–89 Bottom 1988–89 Top 1990–91 Bottom 1990–91 Top 1991–92 Bottom 1991–92 Top
Before Housing Costs
Single or couple self-employed 87 565 76 581 84 575
Single in full-time work 173 467 168 497 172 494
Couple both in full-time work 210 518 222 584 226 588
Couple one in full-time work one in part-time work 162 396 161 409 162 433
Couple one in full-time work one unemployed or not employed 126 387 124 424 126 441
Couple one or both in part-time work 3(84) 3(358) 3(77) 3(397) 3(77) 3(339)
Single retired pensioner 96 289 98 319 101 335
Couple both retired pensioners 101 295 100 336 107 351
Single unemployed or non-employed 83 249 83 269 86 265
Couple both unemployed or non-employed 67 204 3(67) 3(201) 68 198
Others1 101 334 94 355 97 356
Three or more adults all unemployed or not employed2 3(78) 3(210) 3(73) 3(172) 3(74) 3(179)
After Housing Costs
Single or couple self-employed 56 494 41 511 50 510
Single in full-time work 150 424 144 454 147 455
Couple both in full-time work 183 452 185 517 192 521
Couple one in full-time work one in part-time work 135 348 135 359 134 377
Couple one in full-time work one unemployed or not employed 103 337 96 371 99 381
Couple one or both in part-time work 3(70) 3(324) 3(43) 3(370) 3(50) 3(313)
Single retired pensioner 86 299 90 333 93 346
Couple both retired pensioners 88 283 87 329 89 346
Single unemployed or non-employed 57 229 60 242 56 240
Couple both unemployed or non-employed 51 172 3(38) 3(170) 34 169
Others1 85 321 80 341 79 349
Three or more adults all unemployed or not employed3 3(49) 3(186) 3(53) 3(142) 3(49) 3(148)
Notes:
1 This group includes singles in part-time work and some pensioners.
2 This group is selected on the basis of individuals in such households whereas all others are based on individuals in benefit units.
3 Bracketed figures are particularly uncertain as they are based on less than 100 samples benefit units. Ninety-five times in 100, the true value will lie within a given range. As an example, for the bottom quintile of single or couple self-employed in 1979 this will be £76 to £100, before housing costs, in April 1994 prices. For the bottom quintile of three or more adults all unemployed or not employed in 1979 the range is £40 to £94, before housing costs, in April 1994 prices.

Ms Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average equivalent household income at April 1994 prices for(a) the poorest 20 per cent. and (b) the richest 20 per cent. from the latest households below average income analysis, before and after housing costs, in 1979 and 1991–92 for (i) single, unemployed, no children, (ii) couple both unemployed or not employed, no children, (iii) single, unemployed with child(ren), (iv) couple, unemployed with child(ren), (v) three or more adults, all unemployed or not employed, no children, (vi) three or more adults, unemployed or not employed, with child(ren) and (vii) others with children.

Median equivalised household income of bottom and top quintiles for selected groups (in £'s per week in April 1994 prices)
1979 1979 1991–92 1991–92
Before Housing Costs Bottom After Housing Costs Top Before Housing Costs Bottom After Housing Costs Top Bottom Top Bottom Top
Single, unemployed, no children 3(75) 3(204) 3(56) 3(188) 70 270 35 244
Couple both unemployed or not employed, no children 4 4 4 4 3(71) 3(277) 3(40) (253)
Single, unemployed with child(ren) 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Couple unemployed with child(ren) 4 4 4 4 3(66) 3(134) 3(34) 3(111)
Others with children1 108 262 91 229 109 406 85 349
Three or more adults, all unemployed or not employed, no children2 4 4 4 4 3(69) 3(191) 3(32) 3(160)
Three or more adults, unemployed or not employed with child(ren)2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1 This group includes couples with one or more employed/self-employed and singles in employment/self-employment.
2 This group is selected on the basis of individuals in such households whereas all others are based on individuals in benefit units.
3 Bracketed figures are particularly uncertain as they are based on less than 100 sample benefit units. Ninety five times in 100, the true value will be within a given range. As an example, for the bottom quintile of single, unemployed, no children in 1979 the range is £56 to £90 before housing costs and £42 to £71 after housing costs, in April 1994 prices.
4 Denotes that no reliable estimate can be made because sample number of benefit units is too small.

Approximate number of sample benefit units for each group
1979 1991–92
Single, unemployed, no children 30 140
Couple both unemployed or not employed, no children 10 40
Single, unemployed with child(ren) less than 5 10
Couple unemployed with child(ren) 10 50
Others with children1 500 750
Three or more adults, all unemployed or not employed, no children2 20 70
Three or more adults, unemployed or not employed with child(ren)2 less than 5 10
1 This group includes couples with one or more employed/self-employed and singles in employment/self-employment.
2 This group is selected on the basis of individuals in such households whereas all others are based on individuals in benefit units.