Written question asked by David Nicholson (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 March 1997. It was answered by Oliver Heald (Conservative) on Monday, 10 March 1997 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: What proportion of those aged over 65 years were totally dependent on income from state benefits in (a) 1979, (b) 1990 and (c) the latest date at which figures are available. - Table given.

Answer: Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those aged over 65 years were totally dependent on income from state benefits in (a) 1979, (b) 1990 and (c) the latest date at which figures are available. [18464] Mr. Heald: The information is in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Percentage of pensioner units receiving all their income from state benefits 1979 23 1990-91 and 1994-95 15 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994-95. Note: A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age (SPA) or a couple where the man, defined as the head, is over SPA.

Secondary information