Gordon Lishman‚ Director General‚ Age Concern England said:

“This report rightly highlights the particular problems facing women who are trying to build up retirement income.

"The pension system was built more than 50 years ago and is  now outmoded and littered with obstacles for people with non-traditional working patterns.  As a result millions of women who have been carers‚ full-time mothers and low-paid workers‚ now face poverty in retirement. Only 16% of newly-retired women have a full Basic State Pension on the basis of their own National Insurance contributions compared to 78% of men. 

"And tomorrow's pensioners face the same fate. Our research shows that a third of young women expect to rely on their partner for a pension. The Government has already called the problem a 'national scandal'. Creating a pension system that works for women must be at the heart of the Government's pension reform.”

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