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Pensioners march on Westminster Pensioners march on Westminster
(about 5 hours later)
Pensioners have begun a rally to protest over planned reforms which they say do not help people struggling to pay bills. Pensioners have been staging a rally to protest over planned reforms which they say do not help people struggling to pay bills.
Organisers say the government's Pensions White Paper contains "nothing of immediate benefit".Organisers say the government's Pensions White Paper contains "nothing of immediate benefit".
The National Pensioners Convention will call for the link between earnings and pensions to be restored, and for a £30 a week rise in the state pension. The National Pensioners Convention want the link between earnings and pensions to be restored, and a £30 a week rise in the state pension.
The government said its initiatives had helped lift millions out of poverty.The government said its initiatives had helped lift millions out of poverty.
The NPC - organisers of the rally - are lobbying Parliament and presenting a petition to Downing Street.The NPC - organisers of the rally - are lobbying Parliament and presenting a petition to Downing Street.
One male pensioner taking part in the rally asked BBC News: "Do we eat, e-a-t, or do we heat, h-e-a-t? Because there are going to be thousands of pensioners that are going to possibly die if we have a hard winter this year."One male pensioner taking part in the rally asked BBC News: "Do we eat, e-a-t, or do we heat, h-e-a-t? Because there are going to be thousands of pensioners that are going to possibly die if we have a hard winter this year."
Do we eat, e-a-t, or do we heat, h-e-a-t? A pensioner at the rallyDo we eat, e-a-t, or do we heat, h-e-a-t? A pensioner at the rally
Another female participant added: "The point they've got wrong is when we get our pension, let us have a bit of spending money so we can go out in the evenings - so expensive to go out, so expensive to save up for holidays."Another female participant added: "The point they've got wrong is when we get our pension, let us have a bit of spending money so we can go out in the evenings - so expensive to go out, so expensive to save up for holidays."
Pensions minister James Purnell defended the Government's policy on pensions.Pensions minister James Purnell defended the Government's policy on pensions.
He told BBC News: "The average income of pensioners has been growing faster than the average earnings of the rest of the population and for the first time in a period of economic growth pensioners are now less likely to be poor than people of working age."He told BBC News: "The average income of pensioners has been growing faster than the average earnings of the rest of the population and for the first time in a period of economic growth pensioners are now less likely to be poor than people of working age."
Earlier this year, the government announced in its White Paper that it would restore the link between basic state pensions and average earnings - meaning bigger annual increases - but not for at least six years.Earlier this year, the government announced in its White Paper that it would restore the link between basic state pensions and average earnings - meaning bigger annual increases - but not for at least six years.
The link was abolished under the Conservative government in 1980.The link was abolished under the Conservative government in 1980.
Already one in five older people live below the poverty line Joe HarrisNational Pensioners ConventionAlready one in five older people live below the poverty line Joe HarrisNational Pensioners Convention
The government also said it would make it easier for people to qualify for the full basic state pension, but not until 2010.The government also said it would make it easier for people to qualify for the full basic state pension, but not until 2010.
The NPC said an average of 500,000 pensioners would die every year before the reinstatement of the link to earnings.The NPC said an average of 500,000 pensioners would die every year before the reinstatement of the link to earnings.
Campaigners claim if the link had not been abolished, the basic state pension would be about £136 a week compared with the current £84.25.Campaigners claim if the link had not been abolished, the basic state pension would be about £136 a week compared with the current £84.25.
Joe Harris, general secretary of the NPC, said: "Already one in five older people live below the poverty line and millions more are being forced into hardship by rising fuel and council tax bills.Joe Harris, general secretary of the NPC, said: "Already one in five older people live below the poverty line and millions more are being forced into hardship by rising fuel and council tax bills.
"Yet the government has been breathtakingly complacent on the issue, by refusing to substantially increase the basic state pension and delaying the restoration of the link between pensions and earnings until at least 2012.""Yet the government has been breathtakingly complacent on the issue, by refusing to substantially increase the basic state pension and delaying the restoration of the link between pensions and earnings until at least 2012."
There are billions of pounds in the national insurance pot doing nothing, it could be used to give pensioners a better standard of living in retirement Ann Green Could you get by on £50 a week?There are billions of pounds in the national insurance pot doing nothing, it could be used to give pensioners a better standard of living in retirement Ann Green Could you get by on £50 a week?
He said the National Insurance Fund was so large every pensioner could have a pension of at least £114 for a number of years.He said the National Insurance Fund was so large every pensioner could have a pension of at least £114 for a number of years.
However, the Department for Work and Pensions said tackling pensioner poverty "has been our first priority".However, the Department for Work and Pensions said tackling pensioner poverty "has been our first priority".
"Since 1997 initiatives such as Pension Credit have helped to lift more than two million pensioners out of absolute poverty and a million people out of relative poverty," said a spokesman."Since 1997 initiatives such as Pension Credit have helped to lift more than two million pensioners out of absolute poverty and a million people out of relative poverty," said a spokesman.
"Today, no pensioner should be living on less than £114 per week, compared to £69 per week 10 years ago.""Today, no pensioner should be living on less than £114 per week, compared to £69 per week 10 years ago."
He said tax and benefit changes meant average pensioner households were £26 a week better off.He said tax and benefit changes meant average pensioner households were £26 a week better off.
The government's proposed "bold reforms" would give people more generous provision from the state and establish a new culture of retirement saving, he added.The government's proposed "bold reforms" would give people more generous provision from the state and establish a new culture of retirement saving, he added.