HC Deb 29 July 1997 vol 299 c250W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will give an undertaking that the value of SERPS will be uprated in exact line with prices during the lifetime of the present Parliament. [8991]

Mr. Denham

We have announced a wide-ranging review of all aspects of pensions. Our long-term objective is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to build up an adequate pension to guarantee security in retirement. We will retain SERPS for those who wish to remain in it and introduce a citizenship pension to help people who lose out on pension entitlements because they assume responsibility as carers.

We aim to build a society in which there is a wide consensus on the future for pensions, both now and tomorrow, and to provide dignity in retirement for the whole nation.

The Government have no plans to bring forward in the review proposals to change the uprating of SERPS.