Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pensioners: Poverty Levels

Monday 8 November 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Since 2010, the full yearly amount of the basic state pension has risen by more than 2,050.
  • Latest figures show that 200,000 fewer pensioners are in absolute poverty after housing costs compared to 8 years ago.
  • The triple lock on state pensions has been temporarily abandoned for this year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Byrne Lab Liverpool West Derby
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The questioner is concerned about the effectiveness of the current state pension system and its impact on reducing poverty levels among elderly individuals.

Question

What recent assessment has she made of the effectiveness of the state pension in tackling levels of poverty among pensioners; and if she will make a statement.

Answer from Guy Opperman

Since 2010, the full yearly amount of the basic state pension has risen by more than £2,050. Latest figures show that 200,000 fewer pensioners are in absolute poverty after housing costs compared with 8 years ago.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer provided general statistics but did not address the specific request for a recent assessment or commitment to make a statement on this issue.

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Q2 Patricia Gibson SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The questioner highlights the negative impact on women born in the 1950s due to increased pension age and delayed payments, alongside other issues such as poverty among older people and the abandonment of the triple lock.

Question

With women born in the 1950s having their pension age increased with little or no notice, with state pension payments delayed, causing real financial distress, with more than 2 million older people living in poverty, and with the triple lock abandoned with many pensioners set to be £520 worse off next year, to what extent is the Minister proud of this Government's record of standing up for pensioners?

Answer from Guy Opperman

The hon. Lady will be aware that the triple lock has raised the state pension and that this year's decision is a temporary one, for one year only. In respect of her campaign for 1950s-born women, that matter was decided in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Not addressed: The answer changed the subject by providing court decisions and did not address the specific question about the minister's pride in the government's record for pensioners' welfare.

How: Changed Subject, Provided Court Decisions

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Q3 Ian Byrne Lab Liverpool West Derby
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The questioner highlights the dire situation faced by many pensioners, including high poverty rates and food insecurity, alongside government plans to scrap the triple lock on state pensions.

Question

Figures show that one in five pensioners in the UK are living in poverty; 1.3 million retirees are under-nourished; and 25,000 die each year due to the cold weather. With bills rising and in the teeth of a pandemic, the Government want to break a manifesto promise and scrap the triple lock on what is already one of the least supportive state pensions by international comparison. What impact assessment has the Department for Work and Pensions made of scrapping the triple lock, and how many more pensioners in Liverpool, West Derby will be living in poverty and unable to afford food as a result?

Answer from Guy Opperman

As you will be aware, Mr Speaker, the reality of the situation is that we have taken the state pension—which was languishing under the previous Labour Government and had not been increased in any real way whatever—and massively increased it to £105 billion, with £24 billion on top of that. It has never been higher—never, ever. There has been a £2,000 increase compared with 2010 thanks to the triple lock and the actions of this Conservative Government.

Not addressed: The answer provided general statistics but did not address the specific request for an impact assessment or details on pensioners' poverty levels in Liverpool, West Derby.

How: Changed Subject, Provided General Statistics

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