§ Q57. Mr. CorbynTo ask the Prime Minister what action she is taking to co-ordinate Government policy to ensure that all pensioners have an adequate standard of living.
§ The Prime MinisterThis Government's success in co-ordinating policies to ensure that pensioners have an adequate standard of living is clearly shown by the fact that we have maintained the value of retirement pension, ensured that pensioners' savings keep their value, and encouraged the growth of occupational pensions. These policies resulted in a 23 per cent. real terms increase in pensioners' total average net income in our first seven years in office. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced in November last year that an extra £200 million annually is to be made available to certain groups of pensioners through the income support scheme, who have not shared fully in the prosperity enjoyed by pensioners as a whole.