HL Deb 10 December 2003 vol 655 cc73-4WA
Baroness Greengross

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many men and how many women aged between 50 and state pension age live in a household

  1. (a) with someone in work;
  2. (b) with someone in work and a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs;
  3. (c) with no one in work; and
  4. (d) with no one in work and a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs; and
[HL113]

How many people aged between 50 and state pension age live in a household with no one in work and no one claiming a state benefit (excluding child benefit and basic state pension); and how many have a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs. [HL114]

1. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

4.2 million men and 3.2 million women aged between 50 and state pension age live in a household with someone in work; of these 0.4 million men and 0.3 million women have a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs.

1.2 million men and 0.7 million women aged between 50 and state pension age live in a household with no one in work; of these 0.6 million men and 0.3 million women have a household income below 60 per cent of median income, after housing costs.

There are an estimated 200,000 people who live in a household where no one works or claims a state benefit (excluding child benefit and basic state pension); of these an estimated 100,000 have a household income below 60 per cent of median income after housing costs.

Notes:

SourceFamily Resources Survey (FRS).

2.Figures are for 2001–02, the latest year for which data are available.

3.Estimates are for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million.

4.Estimates relate to the household's status at the time they were interviewed for the FRS.

5.The estimates are sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response. Estimates are subject to both sampling error and variability in non- response.

The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (income that is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household). Figures are quoted on an after housing costs basis and include the self-employed.