HC Deb 18 July 1996 vol 281 c624W
Sir Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage and number of(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples have a total income of at least £125 per week; and what percentage and number of pensioner couples have a total income of at least (i) £200 per week and (ii) £250 per week. [36823]

Mr. Heald

The number of single pensioners with gross income of at least £125 per week is 1,200,000, or 28 per cent. of all single pensioners. The number of pensioner couples with gross income of at least £125 per week is 2,250,000, or 85 per cent. of all pensioner couples.

The number of pensioner couples with gross income of at least £200 per week is 1,150,000, or 43 per cent. of all pensioner couples. The number of pensioner couples with gross income of at least £250 per week is 800,000, or 29 per cent. of all pensioner couples.

Notes:

1. Income is measured as gross income before housing costs.

2. Information is based on the family expenditure survey 1993. All amounts are in July 1993 prices.

3. The numbers of pensioner units are rounded to the nearest 50,000. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percentage.

4. A pensioner couple is defined as a couple where the head, or husband is over state pension age.

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