§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the pension, on retirement, of an average earner in each member state of the European Union, expressed as a percentage of final earnings. [31869]
§ Mr. HealdInformation in the form requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the average income of pensioners, on retirement, in each member state of the European Union, expressed as a percentage of final earnings. [31868]
§ Mr. HealdThe information is not available in the required format.
However, recent independent research1 comparing 11 countries —including eight EU member states —shows the UK has one of the lowest proportions of older people with incomes below 40 per cent. of average income. The UK has a more equal distribution of income among its older population, and a more effective benefit safety net than many other major industrial countries.
A copy of this publication is in the Library.
523W1Incomes and living standards of older people: a comparative analysis by Peter Whiteford and Steven Kennedy, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, published as DSS Research Report no 34, 1995.