State Pension Age Life Expectancy
2020-03-09
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The SNP member questions the implications of government policies on state pension age in light of trends in life expectancy.
What assessment has been made regarding the impact of the government's policies on the state pension age due to trends in life expectancy?
The Government are committed by legislation to review the state pension age every six years. The last independent review was conducted by John Cridland in 2017; the next one is scheduled for 2023 and will consider latest life expectancy projections. Recent Office for National Statistics projections show continued increase in cohort life expectancy, with WHO data indicating better life expectancies for UK residents compared to European or global averages.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The SNP member references a recent Marmot review that highlights how certain Conservative policies have stalled improvements in life expectancy and increased years spent in ill health for the less affluent.
Given the findings of the new Marmot review indicating that a decade of Tory policies, such as benefit cuts and unfair treatment towards WASPI women, has halted progress in life expectancy and exacerbated years lived in poor health among the poorest communities, which specific policy would the Minister reverse to mitigate this adverse impact?
I am afraid that the hon. and learned Lady is wrong; the Marmot review on page 13 states, 'Increases in life expectancy have slowed since 2010,' but it also notes on page 15 that 'Life expectancy at birth has been increasing since the beginning of the 20th century.'
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