HC Deb 09 June 1998 vol 313 cc550-1W
Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the proportion of pensioner households in the lowest quintile of income distribution in Scotland. [43810]

Mr. Denham

It is estimated that in 1995–96, a quarter of pensioner households in Scotland were in the bottom quintile of the income distribution of households in Scotland before housing costs (BHC) and a fifth were in the bottom quintile after housing costs (AHC).

It is also estimated that just over a third of households in the bottom quintile of the Scottish income distribution BHC were pensioner households. On the AHC measure, this reduces to just over a quarter. By comparison, pensioner households make up 28 per cent. of all households in Scotland.

Notes:

1. The data are taken from Households Below Average Income (HBAI) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The 1995–96 financial year is the latest period for which data are available. 2. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised income. The figures are given both before and after housing costs in line with usual HBAI practice. However, these figures count households whereas HBAI normally counts individuals. The results are sensitive to the choice of equivalence scale used to adjust household income for the size and composition of the household. 3. A household is defined as one person living alone or a group of people living at the same address, who either share one meal a day together or share the living accommodation. A household will consist of one or more benefit units, where a benefit unit is a single adult or couple, together with any dependent children. 4. A pensioner household is defined as a single person over State Pension Age (SPA) or a couple where the man, defined as the head, is over SPA. The estimates are based upon the income and benefits of the pensioner unit, and do not include the income of any other household members.

Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner units in Scotland currently receive payments from occupational pensions. [43811]

Mr. Denham

The information requested is not available.