HC Deb 27 November 1998 vol 321 c29W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the value of the basic state pension for(a) someone of minimum state pension age and (b) someone aged 80 years as a percentage of average earnings in (i) 1980 and (ii) 1998; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for (1) all other EU countries, (2) all non-EU G7 countries and (3) other OECD nations for which similar figures are available. [60923]

Mr. Denham

The information on the value of the UK pension as percentage of average earnings is in the tables. Information on other countries is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Year Basic pension at April (£) AverageEarnings atApril (£) Basic pensionas a percentageof average earnings (%)
1980
Minimum pension age 23.30 109.50 21.3
Recipient aged 80 23.55 109.50 21.5
1998
Minimum pension age 64.70 384.50 16.8
Recipient aged 80 64.95 384.50 16.9

Note:

The average earnings of full time employees was calculated using the New Earnings Survey produced by the Office for National Statistics