Pensioner Poverty Increases Under UK Government

That the Parliament notes the reports of analysis by the former UK Minister of State for Pensions, Sir Steve Webb, which it understands demonstrates that pensioners could lose £520 next year, and a cumulative £2,600 over the next five years, due to the scrapping of the “Triple Lock” for state pensions in the UK Budget, affecting what is reportedly around one million pensioners in Scotland; further notes reports that, in light of the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasting that inflation could rise by over 4% next year, millions of pensioners could end up with a real terms cut in their state pension; considers that this would be compounded by any move to scrap the free TV licence for over-75s and a the lack of any increase to key social security payments for pensioners, including the winter fuel payment, cold weather payment, and the warm homes discount, while energy bills increase; understands that, in March 2021, the UK Government's Households Below Average Income statistics revealed that UK pensioner poverty levels have risen to a 15-year high, with 2.1 million UK pensioners (18%) now living in poverty after housing costs, an increase of 200,000 on 2018; further understands that Scotland’s pensioners reportedly already have among the least generous pensions in north west Europe, receiving around a quarter (28%) of the average working wage, while pensioners in Luxembourg and Austria receive 90%, and considers that the current UK administration is making the situation even worse; further considers that, without Scottish independence, Scotland’s pensioners will continue to be vulnerable and undervalued under UK Government rule.