Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Pensioners

Monday 23 January 2023 · 4 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Cat Smith inquired about the impact of inflation on pensioners and the low uptake of pension credit in Lancaster and Fleetwood.
  • John McNally criticized the Government for inadequately increasing state benefits for vulnerable pensioners.
  • Nigel Mills suggested that trustees of private pension schemes with healthy balance sheets increase pensions by the full inflation rate to assist pensioners.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from concerns about the effect of rising inflation rates on pensioner households, especially those eligible for but not claiming pension credit.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the impact of inflation on pensioners? Around 1,800 pensioner households in Lancaster and Fleetwood are eligible for but do not claim pension credit. With the rising cost of living, many more pensioners are struggling.

Answer from Laura Trott

I pay tribute to the work that the hon. Lady is doing in her constituency to boost take-up of pension credit. I would love to work with her and all across the House on this important topic that we are all focused on.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not confirm direct support for the campaign or specific actions beyond expressing willingness to collaborate generally.

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Q2 John McNally SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Minister's initial answer highlighted government support for pensioners, but the question challenges this by pointing out insufficient benefit increases compared to levelling-up grant disbursements.

Question

I thank the Minister for her answer, but the Government are again showing their disregard for the vulnerable of our society by failing to increase state benefits adequately for those who need them most. All the while, the Government disproportionately reward the most affluent areas with their so-called levelling-up grants. Their disregard for the common people, and pensioners in particular, is plain to see. Can the Minister confirm whether there are any plans to reduce the levels of poverty suffered by people caused by her Government's failure to support them adequately?

Answer from Laura Trott

May I remind the hon. Gentleman that under the Conservatives, absolute pensioner poverty has gone down and the state pension has gone up. This Government do deliver and will continue to deliver for pensioners across the United Kingdom.

Not addressed: The Minister avoided addressing plans to reduce current levels of poverty by referring to past performance under a different government.

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Q3 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The initial question about inflation impact led to a follow-up focusing on encouraging eligible pensioners in Lancaster and Fleetwood to claim their benefits.

Question

Around 1,800 pensioner households in Lancaster and Fleetwood are eligible for but do not claim pension credit. With the rising cost of living, many more pensioners are struggling, so will the Minister lend her support to my campaign to encourage my constituents to check on older friends and relatives to see whether they are eligible for pension credit, and to support them to apply if they are eligible?

Answer from Laura Trott

I pay tribute to the work that the hon. Lady is doing in her constituency to boost take-up of pension credit. I would love to work with her and all across the House on this important topic that we are all focused on.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit directly to supporting the campaign but expressed a willingness to collaborate in general terms.

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Q4 Nigel Mills Con
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Inflation rates have increased, but many private pension schemes limit annual increases to a capped amount. The question asks whether the government will encourage these schemes to match full inflation for pensioners' benefit.

Question

The Minister will know that a lot of private pension schemes increase by inflation each year, but with inflation capped at 5%. Will she encourage the trustees of those schemes, where they have a healthy balance sheet, to increase their pensions by the full 10% this year to help out those pensioners who are struggling?

Answer from Laura Trott

My hon. Friend does a lot of important work in this area. What he says is sensible, and all pension funds need to be looking at what more they can do to support pensioners.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not give any specific encouragement or directive to trustees but highlighted the importance of supporting pensioners generally.

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