Fair deal for pensioners: It's time for action - I will do more to

JUST last week I met pensioners' leader Jack Jones to discuss how we're doing more for Britain's pensioners. And last month I listened to a group of pensioners in Wales.

I know we have to do more and I have promised that I will.

We will spend more on pensioners and we will spend it more fairly. We will do more to help the poorest pensioners and we will spend more to help those on low-middle incomes.

We've already targeted extra money at the poorest pensioners and many of the poorest are now pounds 20 a week better off.

Now we want to help those who miss out because they have scrimped and saved, put a little aside for their retirement but who no one could say are well off. So far we're spending pounds 6.5 billion more on pensioners - pounds 2.5billion more than we would have spent if we had increased pensions in line with wages.

"Every pensioner household will get the pounds 150 winter allowance in time for Christmas. We scrapped the eye test charges and cut VAT on fuel, both introduced by the Tories.

This week the over-75s started getting the free TV licences we've brought in. Then there's concessionary bus travel for every pensioner in the country.

I'm looking forward to meeting Jack Jones and his colleagues on Tuesday to talk about the work we're doing to improve pensioners' incomes.

And on Wednesday I will be setting out the future of the Pension Credit and the transitional arrangements so that all pensioners share in the nation's rising prosperity.

Copyright 2000 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.