HC Deb 25 January 1996 vol 270 cc362-3W
Sir Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the value of the basic state retirement pension for(a) a single pensioner and (b) a pensioner couple in 1970 and at each uprating since 1970; and what it would have been if it had been uprated in line with whichever was the higher of average earnings or prices. [10203]

Mr. Heald

The available information is in the table. As there was no uprating in 1970, the table shows the effect of uprating by the higher of prices and earnings since November 1969.

£ per week
Actual rate Rate if uprated by higher of prices and earnings
Uprating date Single Couple Single Couple
November 1969 5.00 8.10 5.00 8.10
September 1971 6.00 9.70 6.15 9.95
October 1972 6.75 10.90 7.15 11.55
October 1973 7.75 12.50 8.05 13.00
July 1974 10.00 16.00 9.30 15.00
April 1975 11.60 18.50 11.95 19.30
November 1975 13.30 21.20 13.85 22.35
November 1976 15.30 24.50 15.95 25.70
November 1977 17.50 28.00 18.00 29.00
November 1978 19.50 31.20 20.40 32.85
November 1979 23.30 37.30 24.30 39.15
November 1980 27.15 43.45 28.80 46.40
November 1981 29.60 47.35 32.25 51.95
November 1982 32.85 52.55 34.95 56.30
November 1983 34.05 54.50 38.00 61.20
November 1984 35.80 57.30 39.95 64.35
November 1985 38.30 61.30 43.45 69.95
July 1986 38.70 61.95 45.35 73.00
April 1987 39.50 63.25 47.90 77.10
April 1988 41.15 65.90 51.65 83.15
April 1989 43.60 69.80 56.25 90.55
April 1990 46.90 75.10 61.70 99.35
April 1991 52.00 83.25 68.45 110.20
April 1992 54.15 86.70 73.85 118.90
April 1993 56.10 89.80 77.45 124.70
April 1994 57.60 92.10 79.70 128.30
April 1995 58.85 94.10 82.90 133.45

Sir Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of all pensioners, single pensioners and pensioner couples have total incomes of(a) £0 to £5, (b) £5 to £10, (c) £10 to £15, (d) £15 to £20, (e) £20 to £25 and (f) £25 to £30 above income support levels. [10270]

Mr. Heald

The available information is in the table. Due to the limited sample size available it is not possible to provide reliable information for the proportion of incomes falling within bands of less than £15.

Pensioner income levels
Numbers in thousands (1993 prices)
Income above I.S. Single pensioners Pensioner couples All pensioners units
Proportion (per cent.) Numbers Proportion (per cent.) Numbers Proportion (per cent.) Numbers
£0 to £15 8 200 17 750 13 1,000
£15 to £30 10 250 21 900 16 1,150

Source:

Analysis of the Family Expenditure Survey 1993.

Notes:

1. Percentages are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent., numbers rounded to the nearest 50,000.

2. The level of Income Support used for this calculation is that for pensioners aged 60/65, at April 1993 benefit levels.