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Gordon Lishman‚ Director-General of Age Concern England‚ said:

“We welcome this report and agree with the Work and Pensions Select Committee that the momentum of pensions reform needs to be maintained and a consensus rapidly achieved.

The Government must ensure that the reforms address the needs of current as well as future pensioners. We support the committee’s call for the link with earnings to be restored to the Basic State Pension as soon as possible‚ and no later than April 2012‚ to prevent it devaluing to a dismal £75.* As a short term measure to prevent pensioners missing out on much needed extra cash‚ an effective programme also needs to be outlined to achieve the challenging targets set for benefits take-up.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

* The Pensions Policy Institute has estimated that unless the link to earnings is restored the Basic State Pension will have fallen in real value to £75 (in 2006 earnings terms) by 2012.

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