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Written question asked by Jenny Willott (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 25 October 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 October 2007. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 29 October 2007 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Pensioners: Poverty

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of pensioners in (a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) England living below the poverty line; and if he will make a statement;
Answer

The available information is in the following tables.

Number of pensioners living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs
UK/GB³ Wales Scotland England
1996-97 2,890,000 1994-95 to 1996-97 140,000 270,000 2,400,000
1997-98 2,900,000 1995-96 to 1997-98 150,000 270,000 2,440,000
1998-99 2,940,000 1996-97 to 1998-99 150,000 260,000 2,490,000
1999-2000 2,840,000 1997-98 to 1999-2000 140,000 240,000 2,460,000
2000-01 2,680,000 1998-99 to 2000-01 130,000 230,000 2,380,000
2001-02 2,660,000 1999-2000 to 2001-02 140,000 230,000 2,300,000
2002-03 2,530,000 2000-01 to 2002-03 130,000 220,000 2,220,000
2003-04 2,180,000 2001-02 to 2003-04 120,000 210,000 2,070,000
2004-05 1,880,000 2002-03 to 2004-05 110,000 190,000 1,850,000
2005-06 1,840,000 2003-04 to 2005-06 110,000 160,000 1,640,000
Percentage of pensioners living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs
UK/GB³ Wales Scotland England
1996-97 29 1994-95 to 1996-97 26 31 28
1997-98 29 1995-96 to 1997-98 27 31 29
1998-99 29 1996-97 to 1998-99 26 29 29
1999-00 28 1997-98 to 1999-2000 26 28 29
2000-01 26 1998-99 to 2000-01 24 27 28
2001-02 26 1999-2000 to 2001-02 24 26 27
2002-03 24 2000-01 to 2002-03 23 25 26
2003-04 21 2001-02 to 2003-04 22 23 24
2004-05 18 2002-03 to 2004-05 20 21 21
2005-06 17 2003-04 to 2005-06 20 18 18
³ Figures are for the UK from 1998-99 onwards, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. Earlier years are for GB only. Notes: 1. There is no single accepted poverty line. The measure of low income for pensioners we have adopted uses a threshold of 60 per cent of contemporary median income after housing costs. 2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 thousand, and percentages to the nearest percentage point. 3. Numbers for Wales, Scotland and England are presented using a three-year moving average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Source: Family Resources Survey

We have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Based on income measured after housing costs the number of pensioners in Great Britain living in relative poverty has fallen by more than one million between 1996-97 and 2005-06.We will continue to build on this good progress. A new Public Service Agreement 'Tackle poverty and promote greater independence in later life', published as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2007 clearly demonstrates that tackling the problems of low income amongst older people remains a key government priority.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
161807; 465 c768-70W
Session
2006-07
Subjects
Pensioners Poverty
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk