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PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Cost of Living: Pensioner Support - 6 March 2023 (Commons/Commons Chamber)

Debate Detail

Contributions from Mr Louie French, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Con
Mr Louie French
Old Bexley and Sidcup
7. What steps his Department is taking to support pensioners with increases in living costs.
Con
Aaron Bell
Newcastle-under-Lyme
20. What steps his Department is taking to help pensioners with increases in living costs.
Laura Trott
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government are committed to helping pensioners with the increased costs of living. From April, pensioners will receive the largest ever cash increase in the state pension, and pension credit will also be uprated by 10.1%.
Mr French
I strongly welcome the additional support His Majesty’s Government are providing to all households across the country, especially pensioners, with the costs of living. In contrast, many pensioners in Bexley are facing additional concerns because of Labour’s outrageous ultra low emission zone tax raid on drivers in Greater London. Will my hon. Friend outline what further support is available to pensioners through the likes of pension credit and join me in Bexley to promote it so that more people sign up for this support?
  14:59:25
Laura Trott
The ULEZ is an outrageous attack on pensioners who can least afford it, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the amazing work he is doing to fight it and to help all pensioners in his constituency. I would be delighted to visit him and see that work for myself.
  14:59:41
Aaron Bell
I thank the Minister for her answer. With 26,500 pensioners in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, the 10.1% increase in the state pension and pension credit will be very welcome, but what other schemes are the Government putting in place to help people with the cost of living at this time?
  14:59:56
Laura Trott
Pensioners will receive a further £300 cost of living payment this winter and all on pension credit will receive a further £900.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Select Committee.
Lab
  15:00:22
Sir Stephen Timms
East Ham
The pensions dashboard will provide important support. It was due to be rolled out from August, but last week the Minister, very disappointingly, announced a delay and we do not now know when it will be implemented. Is it a delay of weeks or months, or even longer? Will the Minister give us a full, urgent update before the Easter recess?
  15:00:29
Laura Trott
Work is ongoing and I will come back to the House at the earliest available opportunity.
Lab
  15:00:44
Mike Amesbury
Weaver Vale
Since 2015, more than 219,000 1950s-born WASPI women—Women Against State Pension Inequality—have passed away. What more are Ministers doing to ensure that WASPI women get the pensions they deserve?
Laura Trott
The hon. Gentleman will know that the new state pension is very beneficial for women. We know that under automatic enrolment, more women than ever have got a private pension. On the specific matter he asked about, he will know that there is ongoing work by the ombudsman, and I cannot comment until that is completed.

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