HC Deb 22 February 1999 vol 326 cc160-1W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many non-married pensioners with income below £80 per week are(a) men and (b) women who are (i) 65 to 69, (ii) 70 to 74, (iii) 75 to 79 and (iv) 80 years or above; and if he will list separately the figures in each case for those who are (1) widows/widowers, (2) divorced or separated and (3) never married. [71176]

Mr. Timms

The information is in the table.

Non-married pensioners in Great Britain with income below £80 per week, by status—All non-married (non-cohabiting) pensioners
Age band Men Women Total
65 to 69 30,000 100,000 130,000
70 to 74 20,000 180,000 200,000
75 to 79 40,000 190,000 220,000
80 or above 60,000 270,000 330,000
All 65 or above 150,000 730,000 880,000

Widow/widower pensioners
Age band Men Women Total
65 to 69 10,000 70,000 80,000
70 to 74 10,000 140,000 150,000
75 to 79 30,000 160,000 190,000
80 or above 50,000 230,000 290,000
All 65 or above 100,000 600,000 710,000

Divorced or separated pensioners
Age band Men Women Total
65 to 69 10,000 20,000 30,000
70 to 74 10,000 20,000 20,000
75 to 79 1 10,000 20,000
80 or above 1 10,000 10,000
All 65 or above 20,000 60,000 80,000

Never-married pensioners
Age band Men Women Total
65 to 69 10,000 10,000 20,000
70 to 74 1 20,000 20,000
75 to 79 10,000 20,000 20,000
80 or above 10,000 20,000 30,000
All 65 or above 20,000 70,000 90,000
1Estimates of fewer than 5,000 pensioners

Notes:

1. Estimates are given to the nearest 10,000 pensioners, although they are not necessarily accurate to that degree. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.

2. Estimates, particularly those for 'divorced or separated', 'never married' and male widowed pensioners, should be treated with caution since they are based on small sample sizes.

3. Income is defined as net income before housing costs at July 1996 prices.

4. Non-married pensioners who are currently cohabiting are excluded from the analysis.

Source:

Family Resources Survey, 1996–97

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate from the PENSIM simulation the numbers of pensioners eligible for the minimum income guarantee (a) under current arrangements and (b) if the Government's proposals on pensions are implemented in (i) 2000, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2020, (iv) 2030 and (v) 2040. [72192]

Mr. Timms

The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is given in the table.

Proportion of pensioners receiving the minimum income guarantee
2000 2025 2050
Current arrangements 1 in 5 1 in 5 1 in 3
After implementation of proposals (excluding effect of behavioural change) 1 in 5 1 in 5 1 in 4

Notes:

1. The estimates of the numbers in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee under current arrangements are based on our intention, over the long-term and as resources permit, to uprate the Minimum Income Guarantee in line with average earnings.

2. Projections forward to the year 2050 are subject to a high degree of uncertainty, given the number of assumptions that need to be made in making these estimates. The estimates have been made by extrapolating estimates from the PENSIM model, but these can only give a broad indication of the likely order of magnitude of figures so far into the future.