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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Beith and Reid quiz Cameron
October 15, 2011 11:31 AM
• [Oct 12] Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed, Liberal Democrat): THE whole House will want to endorse the Prime Minister's words about our heroic service personnel and their families, and I think that most of us also want to see the earliest possible withdrawal of our combat troops from Afghanistan.
What will the Prime Minister do about that group of women already in their late 50s who have seen their state pension age rise from 60 to 64 and now face a further two-year increase from 64 to 66? The coalition had to reform the pension system and will be fairer to women, but this anomaly needs addressing.
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David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative): My right hon. Friend is right to identify that it is of course right to equalise men and women's state pension ages. That has been a long-term goal shared across the House of Commons. I also think that it is right to raise the retirement age to 66, as we have done. We know that a large group of people are affected by this transition and that some people will potentially have to work for an extra two years. We are looking at what transitional help we can give to this group of people and will make an announcement shortly.
• . . Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute, Liberal Democrat): Retirement ages must go up, but the timetable in the Pensions Bill is too fast for many women. I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister say earlier that he was looking at transitional arrangements, and I would hope that those will result in a significant slowing down of the increase in retirement age for many women.
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David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative): As I have said, we have looked at this issue very carefully and we will be making an announcement shortly. We have to look at the most difficult cases of people who will have to do quite an extra amount of working time, but clearly it is right-one must look at the big picture-to equalise men's and women's pension arrangements, and to move to 66, given the extra longevity that we enjoy as a country. Given that, I hope that the hon. Gentleman will be pleased when the announcement is made.
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