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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average difference in pension income between men and women in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) England was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [222919] Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the tables. Table 1 gives gross income, net income before housing costs, and net income after housing costs for male and female single pensioners (people over state pension age). The results are based on combined data from the three years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03. Table 1: £ per week in 2002-03 prices _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Scotland England Great Britain Male single pensioners Gross income 212 228 224 Net income BHC 187 194 192 Net income AHC 161 168 166 Female single pensioners Gross income 188 188 187 Net income BHC 167 165 165 Net income AHC 142 139 139 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Table 2 gives the difference in incomes between male single pensioners and female single pensioners. Table 2: £ per week in 2002-03 prices _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Scotland England Great Britain Gross 24 40 37 Net income BHC 20 29 27 Net income AHC 19 28 27 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. Based on pensioners' incomes 2002-03. Because of small sample sizes the results are based on an average of three years of Family Resources Survey (FRS) data. The data is from 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03 where appropriate uprated to 2002-03 prices. Estimates of average incomes may still be vulnerable to random fluctuations in the number of very high income pensioners in each group in the FRS sample. In particular the differences between men and women should be treated with caution. 2. Net income is after direct taxes (including council tax) have been deducted). 3. BHC stand for before housing costs, AHC for after housing costs. 4. Northern Ireland was included in the FRS for the first time in 2002-03. Because the table is based on three years of FRS data results are given for Great Britain rather than the UK.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c599-600W; 222919

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Women Income Pensioners Men Scotland

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk