ADDITIONAL STATE PENSION

That this House notes that according to the Consumer Price Index the rate of inflation currently stands at 3.5 per cent. and that according to the Retail Prices Index stands at 3.7 per cent.; further notes that the basic state pension will rise by 2.5 per cent. in April 2010 but that additional state pension payments, including state earnings-related pension and state second pension are being frozen; is concerned that up to nine million pensioners will therefore see a significant fall in their real living standards as a result of the freezing of additional pension payments; further notes that the Department for Work and Pensions estimates that, compared with uprating additional pensions in line with the basic pension in April 2010, pensioners will lose over £500 million per year for their rest of their retirement; and urges hon. Members to oppose the provisions of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2010.