Percentage of p ensioners living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income, by region or country: 1995-96 to 2005-06, three-year averages
Percentage
1995-96 to 1997-98
1996-97 to 1998-99
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
Before housing costs
North East
26
26
28
30
28
26
23
22
20
North West
25
27
27
26
25
25
25
24
24
Yorkshire and Humberside
28
30
30
29
28
27
25
24
22
East Midlands
28
30
31
31
31
30
29
27
26
29 Sep 2008 : Column 2393W
29 Sep 2008 : Column 2394W
West Midlands
26
27
26
26
26
27
27
26
25
East of England
23
25
26
26
25
25
24
22
20
London
20
20
21
20
21
20
21
20
20
South East
20
21
22
22
22
22
21
20
19
South West
26
26
27
25
25
25
25
22
20
Wales
26
26
26
26
26
25
26
24
25
Scotland
27
27
25
26
24
23
22
22
21
Northern Ireland
(1)—
(1)—
(1)—
30
30
28
26
25
27
After housing costs
North East
33
32
31
31
28
27
23
20
17
North West
28
29
28
27
25
25
24
21
19
Yorkshire and Humberside
31
32
32
31
29
26
24
20
17
East Midlands
29
30
30
29
28
27
25
22
21
West Midlands
28
29
28
28
27
28
26
23
20
East of England
28
29
28
28
26
25
24
21
18
London
31
31
32
30
30
27
26
23
21
South East
26
26
26
24
24
23
22
19
16
South West
29
28
28
26
25
24
22
19
16
Wales
27
26
26
24
24
23
22
20
20
Scotland
31
29
28
27
26
25
23
21
18
Northern Ireland
(1)—
(1)—
(1)—
27
26
23
21
20
19
(1) Not available. Notes: 1. Three-survey year averages are given for each of the regions as robust single-year estimates cannot be produced because of the sample sizes for individual regions. 2. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication “Households Below Average Income” (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or "equivalised") for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 3. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors.
4. Figures are based on survey data and as such are subject to a degree of sampling and non-sampling error. 5. The government's preferred measures of low income for pensioners are based on incomes measured after housing costs. As part of PSA Delivery Agreement 17 three indicators of low income poverty will be monitored: the percentage of pensioners below 60 per cent. contemporary median income, 50 per cent. median income and 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income uprated in line with prices. Source: Family Resources Survey
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce levels of poverty in persons aged over 65 years; what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by his Department on the causes of poverty in persons aged over 65 years in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [223426]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 10 September 2008]: In 1997 the poorest pensioners lived on £68.80. Today no pensioner need live on less than £124.05. The Government have introduced a number of measures to reduce the levels of poverty in older people. The number of pensioners in poverty in the UK has fallen from 2.9 million in 1998-99 to 2.1 million in 2006-07 (as measured by 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs). Once housing costs are accounted for, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole.
