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Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Work and Pensions
Neil Duncan-Jordan
Main Page: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)Department Debates - View all Neil Duncan-Jordan's debates with the Department for Work and Pensions
(2 days, 8 hours ago)
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Emma Reynolds
The Chancellor launched a landmark pensions review in July, which I am leading. It has two objectives: to boost returns for future pensioners, so that when they save into private pensions, they get better returns, the likes of which we see in Australia and Canada; and to boost investment in the UK economy.
Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole) (Lab)
The poorest pensioners in our society are those who are eligible for pension credit but do not claim it, and those who are just a few pounds above the threshold and miss out on passported support. Means-testing, by its very nature, is simply not the best way to get help to those who need it most, so will the Minister reconsider the recent decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance?
Emma Reynolds
We will not reconsider that decision, because as a result of the £22 billion black hole that we inherited from the Conservative party, we have had to take tough decisions in a very tight fiscal environment. However, my hon. Friend has given me the opportunity to remind people that they have until Saturday to make a pension credit claim, which can be backdated and will passport them to winter fuel payments and other related benefits.