Written question asked by David Marshall (Labour) on Thursday, 11 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 November 2004. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 November 2004 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 progress the Department has made in tackling pensioner poverty since 1997. - Inc figures and ref to the Household Below Average Income figures.

Answer: Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress the Department has made in tackling pensioner poverty since 1997. [198670] Malcolm Wicks: We have taken many steps to tackle pensioner poverty, including the introduction of pension credit and winter fuel payments, and since 2000, there has been a 7 per cent. real rise in the level of the Basic State Pension. As a result, of these measures during 2004-05 we will be spending nearly £10 billion more on pensioners, including £5 billion more on the poorest third. Recent analysis has shown our overall strategy to tackle pensioner poverty is succeeding. The Household Below Average Income figures shows pensioner poverty has fallen by two thirds in absolute terms between 1996-07 and 2002-03 thereby lifting 1.8 million older people out of absolute poverty of which 1.3 million are women.

Secondary information