HC Deb 12 December 1996 vol 287 cc358-60W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the average pensioner's income for each year since 1979 by decile group. [8802]

Mr. Heald

The information is in the table.

Median average net income before housing costs for each decile of the all pensioner units income distribution
£ per week/July 1994 prices
Year Decile 1 Decile 2 Decile 3 Decile 4 Decile 5 Decile 6 Decile 7 Decile 8 Decile 9 Decile 10
1979 51.60 57.60 62.30 65.70 69.20 73.20 79.70 92.40 122.70 209.30
1981 54.30 62.10 66.20 69.00 72.50 77.20 83.40 97.40 126.50 229.60
1987 56.20 65.50 73.00 77.30 82.90 88.80 98.20 119.60 161.20 294.90
1988 54.40 64.50 73.10 76.90 82.00 88.20 100.00 124.40 173.40 323.50
1989 52.20 63.30 71.50 76.60 81.20 87.00 100.80 126.70 164.60 304.50
1990 55.30 64.50 72.00 76.80 82.70 89.40 106.30 130.80 179.30 329.10
1990–91 55.80 65.50 73.20 78.70 84.50 93.80 112.00 138.90 187.10 346.10
1992 59.50 70.40 79.20 84.30 90.60 101.30 119.40 144.80 248.00 365.20
1993 62.30 72.20 82.60 88.70 95.30 104.50 121.70 149.70 188.90 358.30
1994–95 66.20 75.60 84.20 92.50 99.90 110.40 128.30 150.00 197.70 373.10

Notes:

1. The estimates refer to all pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined to be either a single person over state pension age, or a couple where the head, assumed to be the man, is aged over state pension age.

2. The deciles used are the 10 deciles of the before housing costs equivalised net income distribution for all pensioner units. The estimates of average income for each decile are estimates of the median before housing costs unequivalised net income of that decile. This methodology is that used to create table 5 of the Pensioners' Incomes Series publication. This methodology may create an anomaly as some pensioner units will be in a different equivalised decile from their unequivalised decile, thus making it possible, although unlikely, for a higher equivalised decile to have a lower median unequivalised income.

3. Due to the use of estimates of unequivalised income, variations in the median income of deciles may reflect changes in the relative numbers of single pensioners and pensioner couples in that decile. As an example, the median income level of a decile may rise due to an increase in the relative numbers of pensioner couples in the decile rather than a general rise in income levels.

4. Estimates for 1979, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1993 refer to that particular calendar year. The estimate for 1990–91 is an estimate based on data from both 1990 and 1991, as part of the 1991 data had to be omitted due to an error arising from the delayed issue of community charge bills. The estimate for 1994–95 refers to the financial year.

5. Estimates from the pensioners' incomes series are subject to wide margins of error. In particular comparisons of estimates from different years may not give reliable results. It is therefore recommended that estimates are used to indicate trends over time and that year on year comparisons should be avoided.

Source:

The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95, which is based mainly on family expenditure survey data. All estimates are pounds per week in July 1994 prices, rounded to the nearest £0.10.

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the real increase in pensioner income since 1979 broken down for each decile group. [8801]

Mr. Roger Evans

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Decile of the before housing costs equivalised net income distribution for all pensioner units Real growth in median unequivalised income 1979 to 1994–95 (per cent.)
1 26
2 31
3 35
4 41
5 44
6 51
7 61
8 62
9 61
10 78

Notes:

1. The estimates refer to all pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined to be either a single person over state pension age, or a couple where the head, assumed to be the man, is aged over state pension age.

2. The deciles used are the 10 deciles of the before housing costs equivalised net income distribution for all pensioner units. The growth rates for each decile are based on estimates in July 1994 prices for the calendar year 1979 and the financial year 1994–95 of the median before housing costs unequivalised net income of that decile. This methodology is that used to create table 5 of the Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95 publication. This methodology mar create an anomaly as some pensioner units will be in a different equivalised decile from their unequivalised decile, thus making it possible, although unlikely, for a higher equivalised decile to have a lower median unequivalised income.

3. Due to the use of estimates of unequivalised income, variations in the median income of deciles may reflect changes in the relative numbers of single pensioners and pensioner couples in that decile. As an example, the median income level of a decile may rise due to an increase in the relative numbers of pensioner couples in the decile rather than a general rise in income levels.

Source:

The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95, which is based mainly on family expenditure survey data. All estimates are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point.