Scottish Communists

Election 2007

Poverty is widespread among Scotland's pensioners. For those who last the course until 2012, there is the possibility of the restored link between the basic state pension and earnings. But this is not guaranteed - the Treasury has made sure of that.

The means-tested Pension Credit is supposed to have lifted pensioners out of poverty, and no doubt many have benefited. But the effect of means-testing is that many people entitled to the benefits do not claim because they find it humiliating to have intruders nosing into their personal affairs.

Around a third of pensioners who qualify for the means tested pension credit fail to claim it. Many of those who do not claim are the oldest pensioners. The oldest pensioners are the poorest pensioners. They are less likely to have an occupational pension, more likely to have additional expenditures deteriorating health and because they are more likely to be women, they are less likely to get the full basic state pension. According to EOC figures, while 92% of men retire with a full state pension, only 16% of women have a full basic pension in their own right.

Pensions are under attack because big business across Europe no longer wants to pay anything towards the needs of retired workers. Big business lobby groups are using the European Union to fulfill this goal.

We need a Scottish Parliament that will:

● Support older people in their fight for a decent basic state pension with immediate eject and put an end to discrimination and means-testing.

● Use its powers over health/care, travel, education, cultural activities, and housing for improvements in services to older people.

● Replace the Council Tax by a local income tax.