BASIC STATE PENSION AND THE LINK WITH EARNINGS

Early day motion 1069, tabled 10 March 2010 by Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour). Signed by 40 members.

That this House notes that the weekly basic state pension will rise to £97.65 in April 2010; recognises that if the link between pensions and earnings had not been broken in 1980 the basic state pension would now be £158.60; further notes that this is below the official poverty level of 60 per cent. or less of the average UK household income, estimated at £165 a week in 2009; believes that the basic state pension should be increased to this level so that no pensioner lives in poverty; and further believes that pensioner income in excess of that level should be taxed as part of a progressive taxation system.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, DUP 4, Liberal Democrat 2, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1.