PENSIONERS' AND LOW INCOMES

Motion Text

That this House is concerned that the percentage of pensioners experiencing persistent low income has risen from 17 per cent. in 1994-1997 to 18 per cent. in 1998-2001; notes that many of the poorest pensioners do not claim the pension credit to which they are entitled; and calls on the Government to increase the basic state pension by earnings not prices to tackle the problem of persistent pensioner poverty and reverse the spread of means-testing.