To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of the freezing of the personal income tax allowance since 2021 on pensioners’ disposable incomes; what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners brought into income tax as a result of that policy;...

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of the freezing of the personal income tax allowance since 2021 on pensioners’ disposable incomes; what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners brought into income tax as a result of that policy;...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what measures her Department is taking to tackle the impact of energy price cap levels on low-income families and pensioners during the winter months of 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what measures her Department is taking to tackle the impact of energy price cap levels on low-income families and pensioners during the winter months of 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people on Pension Sharing Orders receive the same communication as the named person; and whether his Department issues guidance on how to communicate with those on a PSO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people on Pension Sharing Orders receive the same communication as the named person; and whether his Department issues guidance on how to communicate with those on a PSO.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many pensioners have become liable to pay income tax in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of frozen income tax thresholds on pensioners.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many pensioners have become liable to pay income tax in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of frozen income tax thresholds on pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the processing rate of Pension Sharing Orders by his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the processing rate of Pension Sharing Orders by his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to increase the age threshold for free NHS prescriptions in England from 60 to the State Pension age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to increase the age threshold for free NHS prescriptions in England from 60 to the State Pension age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Pension Sharing Orders are outstanding from his Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Pension Sharing Orders are outstanding from his Department.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of pensioners with income at or near the level of the state pension who are now liable for income tax as a result of the freeze in personal allowance thresholds.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of pensioners with income at or near the level of the state pension who are now liable for income tax as a result of the freeze in personal allowance thresholds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding online chat facilities as a means for pensioners to raise pension-related queries with the DWP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding online chat facilities as a means for pensioners to raise pension-related queries with the DWP.

I am grateful to the Select Committee Chair, my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams), for her statement. Did she look in her report at the measures the Government could take to keep older people in work? As she rightly noted, that is a problem...

I am grateful to the Select Committee Chair, my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams), for her statement. Did she look in her report at the measures the Government could take to keep older people in work? As she rightly noted, that is a problem...

The Mayfield review came up with some good recommendations, which we thoroughly support, and I can direct my hon. Friend to other reports that made similar recommendations. It is important that we look at older people and not just people with health issues and disabilities.

The Mayfield review came up with some good recommendations, which we thoroughly support, and I can direct my hon. Friend to other reports that made similar recommendations. It is important that we look at older people and not just people with health issues and disabilities.

Statement on the publication of the second report of the Work and Pensions Committee, Transition to State Pension age (HC 76).

Statement on the publication of the second report of the Work and Pensions Committee, Transition to State Pension age (HC 76).

I express my gratitude to the Backbench Business Committee for granting me the opportunity to present this Work and Pensions Select Committee report on our inquiry into the transition to state pension age, which is a really important area for us to examine. Our inquiry follows very closely on from...

I express my gratitude to the Backbench Business Committee for granting me the opportunity to present this Work and Pensions Select Committee report on our inquiry into the transition to state pension age, which is a really important area for us to examine. Our inquiry follows very closely on from...

rose—

rose—

indicated assent.

indicated assent.

This briefing explains UK poverty statistics, including historical trends and forecasts, and poverty by employment, tenure, ethnicity, disability and region.

This briefing explains UK poverty statistics, including historical trends and forecasts, and poverty by employment, tenure, ethnicity, disability and region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Pensions Commission on engaging pensioner advocacy groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Pensions Commission on engaging pensioner advocacy groups.

The Government are committed to supporting British pensioners to enjoy a comfortable retirement after a lifetime of work. That is why we are raising the state pension throughout this Parliament via the triple lock. That saw the state pension increase by 4.8% in April, boosting the level of the new state pension by £575 a year.

The Government are committed to supporting British pensioners to enjoy a comfortable retirement after a lifetime of work. That is why we are raising the state pension throughout this Parliament via the triple lock. That saw the state pension increase by 4.8% in April, boosting the level of the new state pension by £575 a year.

I thank the Minister for his reply, but he will know that my borough of Havering has the second largest number of older people in the entirety of Greater London. Nearly a quarter of my constituents are within that age bracket, and they are losing out. I know that the Government’s policy on the winter fuel allowance has changed, but it frightened them and made them ask whether Labour is really on their side. Will the Minister assure my constituents that the next Labour Administration will not target pensioners, but will give them the respect they deserve, and ensure that they have a happy and healthy retirement?

I thank the Minister for his reply, but he will know that my borough of Havering has the second largest number of older people in the entirety of Greater London. Nearly a quarter of my constituents are within that age bracket, and they are losing out. I know that the Government’s policy on the winter fuel allowance has changed, but it frightened them and made them ask whether Labour is really on their side. Will the Minister assure my constituents that the next Labour Administration will not target pensioners, but will give them the respect they deserve, and ensure that they have a happy and healthy retirement?

I can give the hon. Member the assurance he asks for, which is that this Labour Administration, like all Labour Administrations, are on the side of pensioners. Of course, he only defected earlier this year, so he was a Conservative MP during all 14 years of the Conservative party’s disastrous last Government—a Government who saw pensioner poverty rise and left one in five of those aged over 75 on NHS waiting lists. That is what letting down pensioners looks like.

I can give the hon. Member the assurance he asks for, which is that this Labour Administration, like all Labour Administrations, are on the side of pensioners. Of course, he only defected earlier this year, so he was a Conservative MP during all 14 years of the Conservative party’s disastrous last Government—a Government who saw pensioner poverty rise and left one in five of those aged over 75 on NHS waiting lists. That is what letting down pensioners looks like.