HC Deb 28 June 2000 vol 352 cc531-2W
Mr. Coaker

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will conduct an analysis of the comparative position of pensioners in(a) the UK and (b) other EU states; and if he will make a statement. [127617]

Mr. Rooker

Analyses of the comparative position of pensioners in the UK, in terms of income, are included in the publications "Households Below Average Income" 1994–95 to 1997–98 and "The Pensioners' Incomes Series" 1997–98, both of which are available in the Library.

Aspects of pensioner income and poverty in different EU states are covered in selected papers in the "Statistics in Focus" series, published by Eurostat. Copies are held in the Library. There are no plans for the Department to conduct a separate analysis of the comparative position of pensioners in other EU states.