18-07-03

Government must make pensioner poverty a higher priority – Barrett

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, during a speech in the House of Commons, called on the Government to bring pensioner poverty higher up on their list of priorities. 

According to Government figures, 22% of pensioners, 2 million in total, still live below the poverty line.  Poverty is especially high amongst pensioner women with three quarters of pensioners on income support being female.

In a statement, John Barrett said:

"Although the Government has made some progress on the issue of pensioner poverty, the fact 2 million pensioners still live without a decent income shows there is no room for complacency.

"The introduction of the pension credit in the autumn gives the Government an opportunity to really tackle this issue.  However, as with any means tested benefit, it is only as effective as its take-up rate.  Currently, £2 billion worth of pensioner benefits are going unclaimed and organisations such as Age Concern and Help the Aged have already attacked the Government for setting such low targets for pensioner credit take-up.

"I will be working hard in my own constituency over the summer to publicise the new credit and encourage local pensioners to take full advantage of it.  However, the Government will have to make sure all the necessary infrastructure has been put in place to deal with applications so that we can avoid a repeat performance of the shambles that has been the working and child tax credits."

Following the report of the Pensions Policy Institute which called for reform of the state pension, John Barrett also called on the Government to make this a priority.

John Barrett added:

"Successive Governments, of different colours, have allowed the state pension to wither on the vine.

"Now is the time to substantially increase the state pension with more money for older pensioners, who all too often, are the poorest pensioners in our communities.  This is something Age Concern has highlighted as a measure which could really bring pensioners out of the poverty trap.

"After six years of this Labour Government, their report card on pensions must surely read 'making progress but could do better'.  Pensioner poverty must now be made a top priority to ensure that older people, after a lifetime of contributing to their country, get a fairer deal in return from this Government."

ENDS