Pensioner Poverty — Welcomes the policies of this Government — 4 Jun 2008 at 18:49

The majority of MPs voted in favour of the motion:^[1]

• This House
• welcomes the policies of this Government to tackle pensioner poverty, which have lifted around two million pensioners out of absolute poverty and over one million out of relative poverty, and have led to spending of around £12 billion extra on pensioners compared with 1997;
• recognises that pension credit allows pensioners to live with dignity and rewards those who have saved for their own retirement;
• acknowledges the introduction of and increases to the winter fuel payment and further measures to ensure pensioners can keep warm;
• notes the provision of free off-peak bus travel granting freedom to pensioners and ensuring that they are not isolated in their own community;
• welcomes the long-term framework for pensions through the Pensions Act 2007, including relinking the basic state pension to average earnings and ensuring equality for women and carers with men by 2025; and
• further welcomes the private pension reforms in the Pensions Bill which will enable individuals to take personal responsibility for their own retirement.

This had been substituted in place of an earlier motion that was rejected.^[2]

• [1] Mike O'Brien, House of Commons, 4 June 2008
• [2] Pensioner Poverty - Redeem 1997 pledge - rejected, House of Commons Division, 4 June 2008

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