Third of households have ISA

Figures have shown that more than 30% of households have a tax-free ISA.

Halifax said there were 14.2 million ISA accounts at the end of March 2009 compared with the 9.3 million recorded in 2000 - one year after the accounts' launch. The figure - which covered both cash and stocks and shares ISAs - showed a rise of 53%.

The figures showed that at least one person in 37% of homes had an ISA - rising to 44% in the South East - with a total of £37.48 billion paid into the accounts during the 2008/2009 tax year.

This was an increase of 32% on the amount invested during the accounts' launch year. However, the average amount paid into each account fell from £3,064 in 1999/2000 to £2,636 in 2009.

The over-50s can save up to £10,200 in an ISA every tax year, while people younger than 50 can put away an annual figure of £7,200 into one of the accounts.

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