WEIR: PENSION BILL INADEQUATE AND TIMID

IT’S TIME FOR A CITIZEN’S PENSION

Responding to the Government’s publication of their Pension’s bill today (Tuesday), Works and pension spokesperson, mike Weir MP said that the Government’s response to the current pension crisis was inadequate and timid.

Mr Weir said:

“With the publication of this bill today we can see the Government has done little to help pensioners.

“While we welcome the linking of payments to earnings, this is a timid response to a deepening problem.  The rise in state pension age will impact disproportionately on poorer people and on areas with a lower life expectancy.

“What is required is the courage to take radical moves.

“The SNP pioneered the idea of citizen’s pension which would be the amount of the basic state pension together with full pension credit.  This would lift all pensioners out of poverty and provide a solid basis for personal savings.”