§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many single(a) women and (b) men will reach the age of 80 years between 21 September and 25 December. [143079]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb dated 9 December 2003:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of single women and single men who will reach the age of 80 years between 21 September and 25 December 2003.
It is estimated that there will be 29,500 single women and 9,800 single men in England and Wales who will reach the age of 80 during this period. Single has been defined to include single (never married), widowed and divorced.
These figures are estimates. They have been derived using the latest national population projections produced by the Government Actuary's Department.
Data from the Office for National Statistics on the pattern of births in 1923 indicates the proportion of the projected total number of 79—year—old men and women in June 2003 who will reach the age of 80 between 21 September and 25 December 2003. Data from the national population projections by marital status produced by the Government Actuary's Department have been used to estimate the proportion who are single.