HC Deb 22 May 2003 vol 405 cc928-9W
Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population who have(a) no savings, (b) savings below £1,000 and (c) savings below £5,000. [115115]

Malcolm Wicks

Information on individual accounts and savings outside of the range £1,500 to £20,000 is not available.

The Family Resources Survey can provide estimates for Great Britain of savings held within benefit units. This information is presented in the table.

Percentage of benefit units
Limit (£) Benefit units with savings below certain limits (percentages)
No savings 34.
Below 1,500 57
Below 5,000 71

Notes:

1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). 2001–02 is the latest year for which data is available.

2. Questions on assets are a sensitive part of the FRS questionnaire and have relatively low level of response. Evidence suggests some under reporting of capital by respondents.

3. A benefit unit is a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children.

Source:

2001–02 Family Resources Survey, Great Britain.

Forward to