Coulter says Pensioners are worse off than in 1950
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA, Ulster Unionist Health Spokesman, today called for a major pensions review after it was revealed pensioners were better off in 1950 than they are today.
The North Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA said :
“Office of National Statistics figures show that pensioners today receive only 15.9% of average earnings compared to 18.36% in 1950. This is a shocking state of affairs and reflects a general neglect by government of the rights of older people.”
“The government are trying to make out that these figures do not take account of private savings schemes by older people. That might be true but what have people’s private savings to do with the government? That argument cannot be used to let the government off the hook over their responsibilities.”
“In the last 50 years pensions were at their highest in 1975-85 when they were worth between 22% and 24% of the national average wage. Last year the average wage had climbed to £549.80 but the pension was just £87.30. Parliamentary answers also show an increase in the number of the poorest pensioners to 460,000 across the UK which is up 10,000 in just one year and stands at virtually the same level as ten years ago when Labour came to power.”