Social Security

I see that we are trying your patience again, Madam Deputy Speaker, so I shall not respond to that intervention in too much detail. What worries me about the current approach is that, as in the case of earlier policies to which I have referred, the issue may not be resolved for many years because of political difficulties within the Government. The Pensions Commission’s report recommends the introduction of a more generous flat-rate universal state pension, to be paid to those who qualify on grounds of residency in the United Kingdom rather than on the basis of national insurance contributions. I wholeheartedly support that recommendation. Indeed, the Liberal Democrats have made a similar commitment to a citizens pension. We have costed proposals for its introduction in the context of a raised retirement age. It is sometimes said—and such a conclusion might be drawn from the orders—that the state can no longer afford to pay a decent and universal pension, and people must therefore provide for themselves. While I believe that people must indeed provide for themselves, I also believe that they should benefit from a much larger basic state pension. After all, ours is the fourth wealthiest economy in the world. I believe that if we can forge a national consensus, people will support the measures that will be necessary to pay for a more sensible, coherent foundation for pensions provision. We support Turner’s proposal for a universal state pension at a level that will lift all pensioners out of poverty. I hope that Members throughout the House will join us in rejecting the mass means-testing of pensioners that the orders encourage and would perpetuate, to ensure that every pensioner is given his or her full entitlement.