HC Deb 10 March 1997 vol 292 c86W
Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those aged over 65 years were totally dependent on income from state benefits in(a) 1979, (b) 1990 and (c) the latest date at which figures are available. [18464]

Mr. Heald

The information is in the table.

Year Percentage of pensioner units receiving all their income from state benefits
1979 23
1990–91 and 1994–95 15

Source:

The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95.

Note:

A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age (SPA) or a couple where the man, defined as the head, is over SPA.