Chris Grayling:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income of the (a) top and (b) bottom quartile of (i) pensioners and (ii) pensioners over the age of 80 in each region was in each year since 1997. [205491]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Information for those over the age of 80 is not available due to small sample sizes.
The information for all pensioners is shown in the following tables. Figures are based on survey data and as such are subject to a degree of sampling and non-sampling error. Figures are based on the average of three years' data as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Users should not read too much into small differences between regions or between three-year averages, particularly for the top quartile, where estimates may be influenced by extreme values.
Average gross income of all pensioners in the top quartile of the income distribution of pensioner units in Great Britain by region
£ per week (2006 - 07 prices)
1997-98 to 1999-2000
1998-99 to 2000-01
1999-2000 to 2001-02
2000-01 to 2002-03
2001-02 to 2003-04
2002-03 to 2004-05
2003-04 to 2005-06
2004-05 to 2006-07
North East
528
537
551
587
631
691
713
754
North West and Merseyside
585
614
586
605
653
702
742
727
Yorkshire and the Humber
635
652
683
697
737
703
712
691
East Midlands
550
563
583
619
654
689
695
737
West Midlands
605
618
626
632
629
663
704
713
East of England
655
662
667
700
711
728
720
741
London
711
795
855
820
796
770
828
901
South East
652
677
741
787
830
835
851
839
South West
576
630
643
668
654
712
747
774
Wales
521
522
551
588
653
662
680
675
Scotland
583
605
611
622
621
668
684
727
England
625
657
682
702
721
739
765
778
Great Britain
616
646
669
690
709
729
754
769
Average gross income of all pensioners in the bottom quartile of the income distribution of pensioner units in Great Britain by region
£ per week (2006 - 07 prices)
1997-98 to 1999-2000
1998-99 to 2000-01
1999-2000 to 2001-02
2000-01 to 2002-03
2001-02 to 2003-04
2002-03 to 2004-05
2003-04 to 2005-06
2004-05 to 2006-07
North East
118
125
131
137
142
144
148
147
North West
114
118
124
129
133
138
142
143
Yorkshire and the Humber
119
124
128
133
138
142
143
144
East Midlands
114
117
122
127
133
137
140
141
West Midlands
114
119
124
128
132
135
140
141
East of England
113
117
122
126
130
135
138
139
London
108
110
115
120
123
127
128
131
South East
111
117
120
124
129
135
138
138
South West
112
116
123
126
131
135
137
138
Wales
112
117
123
129
134
138
141
142
Scotland
118
122
128
134
139
144
146
147
England
114
118
123
127
131
136
139
140
17 Sep 2008 : Column 2225W
17 Sep 2008 : Column 2226W
Great Britain
114
118
123
128
132
137
140
141
Notes:
1. Gross income is income from all sources received by the pensioner unit including income from social security benefits, earnings from employment, any private pension, and tax credits.
2. Figures show average income for pensioner units in each region within relevant quartile of the income distribution for Great Britain.
3. Based on survey data and as such subject to a degree of sampling and non sampling error. Figures are based on the average of three years' data as single year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Estimates for the highest quartile may be influenced by extreme values. Users should not read too much into small differences between regions.
4. Great Britain figures are included on the same basis for comparison: further information for single years at a national level are available in the publication “Pensioners' Income Series 2006-07”.
5. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £.
6. Pensioner units are either pensioner couples or single pensioners.
7. Pensioner couples are couples where one or more of the adults are state pension age or over. Source:
Pensioners' Income Series 2006-07
