HC Deb 08 January 2001 vol 360 c468W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of(a) men and (b) women reaching pension age in the most recent year for which figures are available had entitlement to a full basic State Pension in their own right. [144361]

Mr. Rooker

Among the half million people who most recently reached State Pension retirement age, some 81 per cent. of men and 22 per cent. of women had an entitlement to a full basic pension.

Recently retired pensioners at 31 March 2000
All cases Male Female
Men aged 65 and women aged 601 507.8 261.2 246.6
With full rate of basic State Pension1 266.5 212.3 54.1
Percentage with full rate basic pension 52.5 81.3 22.0
1Thousand

Notes:

1. The case count figures quoted are in thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.

2. Includes all retirement pensioners resident in Great Britain and Overseas.

Source:

5 per cent. sample from the Pension Strategy Computer System at 31 March 2000.