Press Release
Over £100 Million For Pensioners Says Tom Clarke MP
Tom Clarke MP attended a packed meeting of Pensioners and spoke on the subject of Pensions and a range of other benefits to which they were entitled. Invited to address the meeting by Mrs Elizabeth Moffat, Secretary of Muirhead Pensioners Forum, the MP outlined the position of pensioners locally and internationally.
Tom Clarke emphasised: “This Government now spends around £12 billion a year more on pensioners than we would have done if pre-1997 policies had continued. Around half of which is going to the poorest third of pensioners. Pensioner households are on average £1,500 a year, or £29 a week, better off in 2008/09 than they were under the Tories. And the poorest pensioner households are around £2,100 a year or £40 a week better off.
Mr Clarke said: “I am proud of the fact that there is a full package of benefits available such as State Pension, Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payment. And then add on the value of: Free bus passes, Free TV licences (over75s), Free eye tests and lets not forget the provision of social services to the elderly and last but not least, health care. The total in cash terms exceeds well over £100 million for pensioners in my constituency. I know exactly the number of pensioners who are in receipt of each payment or benefit. Let’s be absolutely clear previous generations of senior citizens never enjoyed these benefits. So I have zero tolerance for the accusation that there is no difference between this Government and the Conservative Government.
Mr Clarke acknowledged the complexity of pensions when he said: “Comprehending the multifaceted nature of Britain’s pension scheme is a considerably daunting task. However, I was very pleased to be invited and it was a pleasure to discuss pensions and other associated benefits with such a well informed audience. We now have in place for the first time ever a duty on employers to automatically enrol jobholders into, and to contribute to, a qualifying workplace pension scheme. There are far too many workers who have been denied access to a Pension scheme. That is why there is a need for a pension saving scheme aimed at moderate to low earners. I have always believed that part of the problem on pensions which I repeat is hugely complex; is that the language itself goes right over the head. As people live longer the ability of future Governments to fund pensioner benefits will become increasingly more difficult to sustain”.
The MP added an international perspective to his speech when he quoted the position of pensioners in Italy France and Germany all of whom are experiencing similar problems of an ageing population.
Mr. Clarke stated: “Our Government has targeted spending on pensioners most in need. Inflation rates over the past decade under this Government have been about half those that the previous Administration were able to manage. It is a fact that under the Tories pensioners got poorer with Interest Rates and much higher inflation”.
“Since Labour came into power we've lifted 900,000 pensioners out of relative poverty and 1.9m out of absolute poverty. In 1997 the poorest pensioners lived on £69 a week - today pension credit means no pensioner need live on less than £124 a week - £189 for couples. Had the Government done nothing other than simply uprate the tax and benefit system, it is estimated there would have been a further 1.5 million more pensioners in poverty today. Since 1997, average net pensioner incomes have increased by 29% – compared with earnings growth of 16% as a result pensioners are still less likely to be living in poverty than the population as a whole (after housing costs)”.
Concluding his speech the MP said: “As from now (October), it will be simpler and more automatic to claim Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in one call. Older people can claim the three benefits together, entirely over the phone without having to sign or return any claim forms”.