To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners had incomes in the top half of the national income distribution in 1979 and in the last year for which figures are available. [32788]

In 1979, 23 per cent. of pensioners in the United Kingdom were in the top half of the income distribution before housing costs and 25 per cent. after housing costs. By 1992–93 these figures had increased to 30 per cent. and 35 per cent. respectively.