Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 29 November 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 December 2006. It was answered by James Purnell (Labour) on Monday, 11 December 2006 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the timetable is for reinstating the earnings link for uprating the basic state pension.

Answer: The White Paper ““Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system”” states that the earnings link will be restored to the basic state pension. The objective is that this will be done, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, in 2012 but in any event at the latest by the end of the next Parliament. We have said that we will make a statement on the precise date at the beginning of the next Parliament.This commitment is set out in the Pensions Bill which was published on 29 November.

Secondary information