Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pensioner Poverty: State Pension

Monday 13 December 2021 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The state pension will be more than 2,300 higher in April 2022 than in 1975.
  • The number of pensioners in absolute poverty has decreased by 200,000 compared to 2009-10.
  • The Department for Work and Pensions had a backlog in state pension payments due to factors including covid.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP asked about the state pension's effectiveness, referencing a manifesto commitment to increase it. She seeks clarity on whether the government will assess its impact.

Question

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

Answer from Guy Opperman

The state pension is the foundation of support for older people and, under this Government, the full yearly amount of the basic state pension will be more than £2,300 higher in April than in 1975. The latest figures show that 200,000 fewer pensioners are in absolute poverty compared with 2009-10.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether a statement would be made about the effectiveness of the state pension in reducing pensioner poverty.

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Q2 Karl Turner Ind Kingston upon Hull East
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP referenced a constituent, Fred, who faced several months without income due to DWP failing to pay him his state pension. Intervention was needed from the MP's office.

Question

Fred from east Hull was left without any income whatsoever for several months earlier this year because the Department for Work and Pensions failed to pay him his state pension, to which he was rightfully entitled. When my office intervened, he eventually got paid, but it took us several weeks to sort it out. When people such as Fred in areas like mine are already facing a cost of living crisis, fuel poverty and the effects of the pandemic, does the Minister feel that he should apologise to Fred and many others?

Answer from Guy Opperman

I cannot comment on the individual case, but I can say that the hon. Gentleman is right to say that there was a backlog over the summer period by reason of covid and many other factors, which we took great steps to address. A dedicated team of several hundred individuals ensured that we caught up with the backlog, and we are now operating business as usual.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether an apology would be issued for Fred's case or others facing similar issues.

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Q3 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Taxation Energy
Context

The MP noted that approximately 13.2% of households in Ealing Central and Acton are in fuel poverty, particularly affecting pensioners during the winter months.

Question

With winter biting and energy companies going to the wall, approximately 13.2% of households in Ealing Central and Acton are in fuel poverty—that is 6,864 pensioners struggling to heat their homes. Will the Minister agree with Labour and cut VAT on household heating bills during these winter months? The Conservatives have pilfered enough of our manifesto before; they could do this and make a real difference to pensioners.

Answer from Guy Opperman

The hon. Lady will be aware that we spend £2 billion on the winter fuel payments. There is also the cold weather payments fund, the household support fund, and the pension credit energy rebate. There are a whole host of ways in which support can be found for her constituents.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether VAT on household heating bills will be cut as proposed by Labour.

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Q4 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP raised concerns for women in the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign who lost out on the state pension start age.

Question

I know my right hon. and hon. Friends in the ministerial team are doing their best, but is there any encouragement they can give, perhaps in conjunction with the Treasury, to the women of the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign who lost out on the state pension start age?

Answer from Guy Opperman

With respect to my right hon. Friend, that matter has been decided in the courts on two occasions—in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal—and it is not proposed to change the policy.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q5 Matt Rodda Lab Reading Central
Economy Taxation Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP criticized the Government for failing to increase VAT on fuel and to boost take-up of pension credit despite higher than expected receipts from across the economy.

Question

The Government have consistently failed to stand up for the interests of pensioners on modest incomes. Food prices are up, gas prices are up and electricity prices are up. The cost of living is going up. Yet despite this, the Government are refusing to cut VAT on fuel, even though they have had higher than expected VAT receipts from across the economy, which would allow them to do exactly that and offer much-needed help to pensioners. To make matters worse, the Government are also failing to increase the take-up of pension credit. When will they finally start offering real help to our pensioners?

Answer from Guy Opperman

That is a bit rich. When the last Labour Government were in power, the state pension was under £100; it is now going up to £185 going forward. It is almost double what it was before thanks to the triple lock introduced by this Government and the coalition Government. It is also very much the case that pension credit take-up is actually going up, not down. Over the two years of the pandemic, both the basic and new state pension will have increased by more than prices thanks to the cumulative effects of the Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Act 2020 and the Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Act 2021.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether VAT on fuel would be cut or pension credit take-up increased, focusing instead on past achievements.

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