Oral Answers to Questions

Stuart Andrew Excerpts

Monday 28th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman (Hereford and South Herefordshire) (Con)]

17. What recent progress his Department has made in reducing pensioner poverty.

[Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con)]

18. What recent progress his Department has made in reducing pensioner poverty.

[The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Steve Webb)]

We have restored the earnings link for the state pension and given a triple guarantee that the pension will rise by the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5%. We will pay the winter fuel payment in 2011-12 exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government. We have made permanent the increase in the cold weather payment from £8.50 to £25 a week.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Webb]

Although policy on the tax treatment of savings is a matter for our friends in the Treasury, it is absolutely the case that the single tier provides a firm foundation for saving. Whereas under the current system, every pound one saves results in the clawback of means-tested benefits, a decent single pension will get one clear of means-testing to a far greater extent.

[Stuart Andrew]

Will my hon. Friend confirm that thanks to the re-linking of the basic state pension with earnings, the typical person retiring this year can look forward to receiving an extra £15,000?

[Steve Webb]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Although earnings are temporarily depressed, this is a policy for the long term, as many pensioners will draw a state pension for 20 or 25 years. He is absolutely right to say that the typical person retiring this year will have an enhanced state pension of about £15,000 through the restoration of the earnings link.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Duncan Smith]

The hon. Lady knows that we are looking at all these matters. I am happy to discuss that matter with her if she wants to talk to me.

[Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con)]

T10. I have been approached by a number of constituents who are private landlords, who are concerned that they have not received payments that have been made to their tenants. What measures are the Government considering to alleviate that problem?

[Steve Webb]

We recognise that payments do not always get through to landlords. There is a provision that allows direct payment when there are eight weeks of arrears, and we have added a provision under our new rules so that direct payment can be made to a landlord when it will secure or maintain a tenancy.