STATE PENSION REFORM AND EXISTING PENSIONERS

That this House is appalled that 1.8 million pensioners are currently living in poverty and that many more older people living above the official poverty line are struggling in the face of rising living costs; welcomes the principle of a non-means-tested flat-rate state pension set at a decent level; notes that the Government's draft Pensions Bill will create a single tier pension of £144 a week in today's prices; regrets that this is less than the amount set out in the Pensions White Paper and less than the official poverty level; further regrets that these proposals do nothing to help existing pensioners on low incomes or those who will reach pension age before 2017; further notes with particular concern the unjust situation facing around 429,000 women born between 6 April 1952 and 6 July 1953 who will not qualify for the single tier whereas a man born on exactly the same date will qualify for the flat rate state pension of around £144 per week; urges the Government to look again at ways to address the unequal and unfair situation facing this group of women; reiterates the need for a fair deal for all older people and a decent universal state pension for all; and calls on Ministers to pay greater attention to existing pensioner poverty and the needs of those who will reach state pension age before the new system commences.