§ 22. Mr. John SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Social Security on behalf of Welsh pensioners. [130898]
§ Mr. HansonAs a member of the Inter Ministerial Group on Older People I regularly discuss pensioner issues.
During the course of this Parliament, an extra £6.5 billion over and above inflation, will be spent on pensioners. Of this, half is going to help the poorest third of pensioners primarily through increases to the Minimum Income Guarantee and Winter Fuel payments.
The Minimum Income Guarantee will benefit 94,000 pensioners in Wales. This will be increased in line with earnings throughout the remainder of this Parliament.
A comprehensive strategy has been put in place by this Government to tackle pensioner poverty. This targeted approach ensures that more help is directed towards those pensioners that need it most.