§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many(a) pensioners and (b) other people are living in rural areas; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for (i) 10 and (ii) 20 years earlier. [144359]
348W
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 8 January 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 2 February 2001:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on pensioners living in rural areas (144359). I am replying in his absence.The following table shows the estimated number of people of pensionable age and of all other ages in 1981, 1991 and 1999, resident in those local authorities in England and Wales identified as rural areas in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of local and health authorities of Great Britain.
Estimated number of (thousands) of people of (a) pensionable age1(b) all other ages in local authorities identified as "rural areas"2: England and Wales 1981, 1991 and 1999 1981 1991 1999 Pensionable age 978.3 1,117.5 1,191.2 All other ages 3,705.0 3,911.6 4,133.2 Total population 4,683.2 5,029.1 5,324.4 Percentage of population who were of pensionable age 20.9 22.2 22.4 1 Men aged 65 years and over, women aged 60 years and over. 2 See Office for National Statistics classification of local and health authorities of Great Britain (ONS: London 1999).