10-11-03

Barrett takes pension book petition to PM

John Barrett, Member of Parliament for Edinburgh West, has taken his campaign to save pension books to 10 Downing Street by handing in a petition, signed by over 6,000 people.

Almost half of all pensioners currently choose to get their pension using a pension book.  In Edinburgh alone, over 32,000 pensioners still get their pension this way. 

However, the Department for Work & Pensions has decided that all pensioners must have their state pension paid directly into a bank account or into a new post office card account. Keeping their pension book will not be an option. John Barrett has been running a campaign in his constituency to get the Government to reverse their plans.

 

Speaking outside Number 10, Downing Street, he said:

"The fact so many people have backed my campaign shows the depth of feeling and the very real concern felt by many pensioners over the new system being forced upon them.

"Those pensioners who get their pension with a pension book have already made a specific decision not to have their money paid into an account.  The pension book system is simple and straightforward, giving pensioners the flexibility to have a friend, relative or carer to collect their pension if needs be.

"The new system, involving PIN numbers, smart cards and electronic keypads have left a lot of pensioners very worried.  However, it is not too late for the Government to see the errors of its ways.  They must allow those pensioners who want to keep their pension book, to be able to do so."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

More information on the details of the new automated credit transfer (ACT) system can be found at the Pension Service website at:

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/directpayment/home.asp

A copy of John Barrett's article which appeared in the Evening News can be found at:

http://www.news.scotsman.com/archive.cfm?id=818042003