§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his recently published latest estimates of occupational pension receipt among the newly retired. [61385]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe "Pensioners' Income Series" publication contains guidance about how to interpret the information contained within it. In particular, it warns that great care should be taken when interpreting changes in income over short periods of time since random sampling fluctuations mean that estimates should be regarded as broad indications of trends only.
Table 12 of the "Pensioners' Incomes Series 2000–01" contains estimates of the proportion of pensioner units with occupational pension income and the average amount for those in receipt from 1994–95 to 2000–01. It shows that 59 per cent. of recently retired pensioner units received income from occupational pensions in 2000–01, lower than the corresponding estimate for 1999–2000 of 64 per cent. Estimates for both singles and couples were lower in 2000–01 than in 1999–2000, but the drop was greatest for singles from 51 per cent. in 1999–2000 to 44 per cent. in 2000–01.
There are various possible explanations for these changes, including the possibility that they are due to random sampling fluctuation. More years of FRS data would be needed to confirm whether this is the case.
The "Pensioners' Income Series" publication warns that the time series of results based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS) 1994–95 to 2000–01 is too short to provide an accurate picture of detailed changes in pensioners' incomes over time. It also warns that estimates of proportions in receipt of occupational pension income should be treated with caution because they may be subject to under-reporting by respondents to the FRS.
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§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide a breakdown by gender of his latest estimates of occupational pension receipt among the newly retired. [63690]
§ Mr. McCartney[holding answer 21 June 2002]: The information required can only be supplied for Single Pensioners. As published in the Pensioners' Incomes
The proportion of recently retired pensioners with occupational pension income and the average amounts for those in receipt,1994–05 to 2000–01 1994–95 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Proportions in receipt of occupational pension income All single pensioners 51 51 52 51 44 Single male pensioners 57 54 59 56 52 Single female pensioners 48 50 48 48 39 Average amount of occupational pension income for those in receipt (£pw) Mean amounts All single pensioners 88 93 93 97 95 Single male pensioners 104 107 103 108 115 Single female pensioners 77 83 86 89 79 Median amounts All single pensioners 55 63 58 62 57 Single male pensioners 62 66 65 66 81 Single female pensioners 49 57 52 58 47 Notes:
1. Estimates of the percentage of pensioner units in receipt of occupational pension income are based on respondents' own assessment and may be subject to under reporting.
2. Recently retired single pensioners are defined as single women aged 60–64 or men aged 65–69.