RESTORING THE LINK BETWEEN PENSIONS AND EARNINGS

Early day motion 1721, tabled 14 October 2003 by Kerry Pollard (Labour). Signed by 27 members.

That this House welcomes recent proposals to restore the link between the state pension and earnings; notes that it was a Conservative government which scrapped the link; recognises that since 1997 the Government has raised the winter fuel allowance to ú200, reduced VAT on heating costs, and introduced the minimum income guarantee, replacing it with the pension credit scheme, which gives more money to pensioners who rely on the state pension while rewarding those who have saved for their retirement; welcomes the all party support for restoring the link between the state pension and average earnings; and calls upon the Government to include the restoration of the link in its programme of legislation for the next Parliament.

Signatures by party: Labour 23, Labour/Co-operative 3, UUP 1.