HC Deb 31 October 2002 vol 391 cc993-4W
Mr. Nigel Waterson

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of people reaching retirement age in each of the last 10 years had private self-employed pensions; [77887]

(2) how many holders of private pension funds have taken tax-free lump sums in each of the last 10 years; [77888]

(3) how many people contributed to private self-employed pension funds in each of the last 10 years. [77890]

Ruth Kelly

Available information that can be provided without disproportionate cost is in the table.

Year Number of self-employed contributors to private pension funds (000)1
1996–97 1,620
1997–98 1,630
1998–99 1,560
1999–2000 1,560
2000–01 1,480
1 Estimates are based on the surveys of personal incomes 1996–97 to 2000–01 and include contributors to both Personal Pensions and Retirement Annuity Contracts.