WOMEN AND PENSIONS

Early day motion 364, tabled 9 December 2004 by Helen Jackson (Labour). Signed by 124 members.

That this House recognises the successful efforts of the Government to tackle pensioner poverty and that pension credit benefits many thousands of pensioners, especially women; is nonetheless concerned at the financial position of women pensioners in the 21st century, and notes that on retirement only 14 per cent. of women are entitled to the full basic state pension in their own right; further recognises that this stems from the different pattern of women's working lives, requiring the need to balance work with caring commitments, both when their children are young and also later in life as they help look after the older generation; believes that such commitments should not affect their eligibility for a state pension; and urges the Government now to consider how best to meet this inequity, for example through a universal entitlement to a basic state pension based simply on age and residency, combined with a contributory state second pension which can meet the flexible requirements of modern employment patterns.

Signatures by party: Labour 107, Labour/Co-operative 13, Liberal Democrat 2, Conservative 1, UUP 1.