Mike Weir MP

"I am pleased that Adair Turner's Pensions Commission appears to be agreeing with the SNP's compelling case for providing all pensioners with a more generous non-means tested state pension.

"The Government should now accept the SNP's proposals for a universal Citizen's Pension is right. It will eliminate the means-test for a decent state pension, end the discrimination against women in the state pension system, and provide a secure foundation on which to save for retirement.

"However, I do disagree with raising the state pension age to 67 to fund an improved state pension. People may be generally living longer and healthier lives but this broad trend masks life expectancy inequalities.

"The Government's focus should be on breaking down barriers to employment faced in the years preceding retirement, so individuals can improve their own standard of living, save more for retirement and contribute to the economic prosperity that will deliver decent state pensions for all.

"We do not need to raise the state pension age to pay for a Citizen's Pension. Under the current regressive system of tax relief on pension contributions, more than half of all the relief is received by the top 10% of earners.

"The SNP believe reforming this unfair system and using savings from reforms to fund a universal Citizen's Pension is the most sensible and fair way forward."

Ends