Mike Weir MP

Mr Weir said:

"Increasing the health of the people of Scotland is an obvious factor that must be addressed. It should be coupled with allowing people to enjoy longer retirements, not robbing them of the benefits by raising the retirement age.

"Raising the retirement age would be anti-Scottish and anti-poor since present life expectancy is lower in Scotland with men in Kensington enjoying far greater benefits in state pensions than men in Kinning Park in Glasgow.

"However the Turner Commission's proposal of a health test to tackle those with lower life expectancy is questionable and bizarre. I will be raising this matter with the Commission and asking how they envisage it operating and at what costs?

"Whilst the end of means testing pensioner incomes is welcome the introduction of a health test would be even more bureaucratic. These proposals could have the effect of importing into the pensions system the problems of the incapacity benefit system.

"Raising the retirement age and introducing a health test is unnecessary. A Citizens Pension, as the SNP proposes, can and should be introduced immediately.

"It could be funded by tackling the present ludicrous system of tax relief that sees over 50% going to the richest 10%. Unfortunately this was the only thing that the Commission and the Minister specifically ruled out."

ENDS.