HL Deb 12 February 1998 vol 585 cc215-6WA
Lord Monkswell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What have been, at five year intervals from 1945, the value of the full state old-age pension expressed as a percentage of national average earnings; and what has been at the same time the state retirement age and average life expectancy. [HL315]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables. The state pension age has been 65 for a man and 60 for a woman during the year specified.

Basic State Pension as a percentage of:

Year Full time average manual earnings (Male) Full time average adult earnings (All Adults)
1948 19.1 per cent.
1950 17.3 per cent.
1955 17.9 per cent.
1960 17.2 per cent.
1965 20.4 per cent.
1970 18.7 per cent. 19.3 per cent.
1975 24.8 per cent.
1980 24.8 per cent.
1985 22.4 per cent.

Year Full time average manual earning (Male) Full time average adults earnings (All Adults)
1990 17.8 per cent.
1995 17.5 per cent.
1997 17.0 per cent.

Sources:

1. Average manual earnings (male) up to 1970—the October inquiry which includes almost all make manual workers aged 21 and over.

2. For 1970—Office for National Statistics new earnings survey was used which includes all full time male manual workers aged 21 and over.

3. Full time average adult earnings (all adults)—The new earnings survey from Office for ational Statistics for all full time workers aged 21 and over.

Expectation of life at birth, based on the mortality rates for the given year
Great Britain
Year Males Females
1945 63.1 68.1
1948 65.8 70.2
1950 66.0 70.5
1955 67.2 72.5
1960 67.8 73.6
1965 68.4 74.6
1970 68.7 75.0
1975 69.6 75.7
1980 70.6 76.6
1985 71.7 77.4
1990 72.9 78.6
1995 74.1 79.3
1996 74.3 79.5

Source:

Government Actuary's Department.

Notes:

1. The expectation of life at birth is based on the mortality rates in each year stated and is the number of years a person would he expected to live if he or she experienced the mortality rates of that year throughout their lifetime.

2. The expectation of life at retirement age is greater than the expectation of life at birth minus the age of retirement. This is because expectation of life at birth takes account of mortality below retirement age.

3. 1996 is the latest year for which figures are available.

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