Written question asked by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Thursday, 10 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 16 March 2005. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average weekly income of single (a) female and (b) male pensioners was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Answer: Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average weekly income of single (a) female and (b) male pensioners was in the latest period for which figures are available. [221603] Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table. The average incomes of single female and single male pensioners in 2002-03 £ per week 1 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Single female pensioners Single male pensioners Gross income 197 221 Net income BHC 172 190 Net income AHC 147 165 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 2002-03 prices. Notes: 1. Incomes are presented as pounds per week. Figures for incomes are given in 2002-03 prices and rounded to the nearest pound. 2. BHC stands for "before housing costs" and AHC for "after housing costs". 3. Gross income is income from all sources received by the pensioner including income from social security benefits (including housing benefit), earnings from employment or self- employment, any private pension income, and tax credits. Net income before housing costs deducts direct taxes including council tax, net income after housing costs also deducts housing costs which include rent, water rates and mortgage payments. Source: The Pensioners' Incomes Series 2002-03 (which is based on data from the Family Resources Survey).

Secondary information