§ 8. Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)What measures he proposes to take to alleviate pensioner poverty in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [447]
§ The Minister for Pensions (Mr. Ian McCartney)Our record speaks volumes. Around 2 million of the poorest pensioner households are now at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997. That is a real-terms rise in living standards of at least 17 per cent.
§ Sir Robert SmithI am sure that the Minister will recognise that the poorest pensioners in our society are those who are entitled to the minimum income guarantee but who fail to claim it. What is his current estimate of the number of people who fail to clam the MIG? What target will his Department set for take-up before it will recognise that the MIG is not succeeding for those pensioners and another way will have to be found?
§ Mr. McCartneyThis is a parliamentary first: a Rab C. soundalike answering a Rab C. lookalike. I would take the hon. Gentleman's point more seriously if it were not 374 for this fact. In 1997, the Liberal Democrats' policy was clear. They offered a minimum income guarantee credit. They have now changed their position. In doing so, they have divided themselves from the Government.
The Government are committed to ensuring that no pensioner in Britain lives in poverty. The uptake of the MIG is considerable. Earlier, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made it clear that, following the latest take-up campaign, over 100,000 pensioners are now receiving £20 a week more. When we think about it, for a small investment, we are taking people out of poverty for their lifetime. Under the old system, people lived in poverty for the whole of their lifetime. The Government are ensuring that every pensioner in Britain will have a minimum income guarantee, and we will improve on that when we introduce the pension credit Bill.