Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pensioner Poverty: State Pension Age

Monday 6 March 2023 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial review of the state pension age is underway, considering two independent reports.
  • The review assesses whether current rules on pensionable age are appropriate.
  • Relative pensioner poverty has been halved since 1999, and absolute poverty has decreased by 400,000 since 2009-10.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patrick Grady SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about increasing pensioner poverty due to the rising state pension age.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of increasing the state pension age on trends in the level of pensioner poverty?

Answer from Mel Stride

My review of the state pension age is under way. The review will consider a wide range of evidence, including two independent reports, to assess whether the rules on pensionable age remain appropriate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific impact of raising the state pension age on pensioner poverty trends was not addressed.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Patrick Grady SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Age UK analysis shows that accelerating the rise of the state pension age will affect pre-state pension age households with no savings.

Question

Should an independent pensions and savings commission be established to ensure pension policies reflect demographic needs?

Answer from Mel Stride

The two reports are from the Government Actuary's Department and Baroness Neville-Rolfe. We consider issues such as pensioner poverty, which has improved since 1999 with relative pensioner poverty halved and absolute poverty reduced by 400,000 since 2009-10.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific need for an independent commission was not addressed.

How: Under Review, Consideration Of Pensioner Poverty

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Q3 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP questions the realism of expecting people to spend a third of their lives on pensions.

Question

Is it realistic to expect people to spend a third of their lives on a pension?

Answer from Mel Stride

I have great respect for my right hon. Friend, but I am afraid that although he tempts me to answer that question, I cannot prejudge the decisions that I will take in the review.

Not addressed: The realism of expecting people to spend a third of their lives on pensions was not addressed.

How: Cannot Prejudge

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