Pensioner Incomes (Hansard, 31 January 1994)

§ 13. Mr. Richards
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average pensioner's income from savings.

§ Mr. Hague
Pensioners' estimated average weekly income from savings is as follows:

£30.30 for all pensioners¹;

£45.10 for pensioner couples; and

£21.60 for single pensioners.

¹ Single people over state pension age and couples where the husband is over state pension age.
Source: The 1990–91 family expenditure survey. Figures are at January 1991 prices.

§ Mr. Gallie
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much total pension incomes have increased per annum between 1979 and the latest year for which figures are available; and what was the equivalent figure between 1974 and 1979.

§ Mr. Hague
The estimated average annual increase in pensioners' total income in the years 1979 to 1990–91—the latest year for which figures are available—was:

3.1 per cent. for all pensioners¹;

2.9 per cent. for pensioner couples; and

2.9 per cent. for single pensioners.

The available information, although not directly comparable, shows an increase of 0.6 per cent. per year between 1974 and 1979. ¹ Single people over state pension age and couples where the husband is over state pension age.
Note: Information for the period 1979 to 1990–91 derives from the family expenditure survey, and is consistent with the methodology of the households below average incomes survey. For years prior to 1979 the FES is not consistent with the HBAI. In particular, there is no breakdown between single pensioners and pensioner couples.

§ 26. Mr. Rathbone
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the rise in pensioners' total average net income since 1979.

§ Mr. Hague
The estimated rise in pensioners' total average net income, in real terms, from 1979 to 1990–91 —the latest year for which figures are available—was:
Before housing costs:

42 per cent. for all pensioners¹;

39 per cent. for pensioner couples; and

39 per cent. for single pensioners.
After housing costs:

54 per cent. for all pensioners¹:

53 per cent. for pensioner couples; and

49 per cent. for single pensioners.

¹Single people over state pension age and couples where the husband is over state pension age.
Source: The 1990–91 family expenditure survey.

§ 23. Mr. Hayes
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the value of the average pensioner's income from savings and occupational pensions; and what were the comparable figures in 1979.

§ Mr. Hague
The latest estimate of the average weekly income to pensioners from savings and occupational pensions is:

£63.20 to all pensioners¹

£99.50 to pensioner couples and

£41.80 to single pensioners.
The comparable figures for 1979 are:

£27.80 to all pensioners¹

£46.40 to pensioner couples and

£18 to single pensioners.

¹Single people over state pension age and couples where the 577 husband is over state pension age.
Source: 1990–91 family expenditure survey. All figures are at January 1991 prices.