Dr Doug Naysmith

Labour Party | Bristol North West

'What has the government ever done for us?'

August 26 2009

Response to the leader in the Bristol Older People's Forum newsletter

If you saw the film "The Life of Brian" you will remember John Cleese asking, "What have the Romans ever done for us?" Someone mentions the roads, then schools, heating, sewers. The list gets longer and longer but the refrain is, "Yes, but apart from all of that, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

I believe the Government has not yet done enough for older people. Even so, I was astonished to read – in your "non-party political" winter newsletter - the blanket criticisms in "A View from the Chair". There was an accusation of neglect of those "who have outlived their usefulness" and the claim that we can expect little from the Government because "Pensioners are of no use, except at election times when their votes might be useful."

When we came to office, old age and poverty were closely linked: today, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than any other sector of society. We have lifted almost a million pensioners out of relative poverty and nearly 2 million out of absolute poverty. Pension Credits, far from not working, as was claimed elsewhere in the newsletter, ensure that no pensioner need live on less than £124 per week (£189 for couples) whereas in 1997 the poorest pensioners lived on £69 per week. We want even more people to apply and I applaud the BOPF's efforts to urge people to claim what is due to them. But the Government has done its bit too and now you can claim Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in just one phone call.

I know low interest rates hit those taking income from savings but inflation is low as well now, which helps to cushion the blow. Even if we have negative inflation, pensions – which are usually linked to inflation - will still rise, as the Government is committed to raise the basic state pension by 2.5 per cent a year or the increase in the September Retail Price Index, whichever is higher.

So….. apart from Pension Credits, Winter Fuel Payments of £200 for over 60s and £300 for over 80s, with an extra £50 or £100 this year; free eye tests; free bus travel; free TV licences for over 75s; help with home insulation for some over 70s, Cold Weather Payments (which benefit many older people) tripled; an extra £60 in January for everyone over 60…. what has the Government ever done for older people? According to your newsletter, nothing to speak of. You didn't mention that, since 1997, average net pensioner incomes have increased by 29 per cent – compared with earnings growth of 16 per cent. Or that we now spend around £12 billion a year more on pensioners than we would have done if 1997 policies had continued. Is that neglect? Pensioner households are, on average, £29 a week better off in 2008/09 than they were in the nineties. The poorest pensioner households are around £40 a week better off. Is that evidence of "scant regard" for pensioners?

The problem with listing what the Government has done for pensioners is that someone will always say, "Oh, you expect us to be grateful". No, I do not expect that, but I do expect accuracy. The honest answer to "What has the Government ever done for us" is "A lot – but there is still more to do."