600 women in Aberavon stand to gain from fairer pensions deal voted this week
18th January 2007
Dr Hywel Francis MP was this week voting for the Labour government's pensions proposals that could see around 600 more women between 46 and 56 in Aberavon get a full basic state pension in the years ahead.
Around 500,000 more women between 46 and 56 across the UK will get a full pension as a result of the fairer deal in Labour's Pensions Bill, which was voted on in the House of Commons this week. The Bill will introduce new weekly credits that count towards your pension if you are caring for children or the seriously disabled, and cut the number of years people need to build up entitlement to a full basic state pension.
Around 300,000 women aged 46-56 are set to benefit in Wales - equating to around 600 on average in every parliamentary constituency in the region.
Currently, only around 30 per cent of women retire with a full basic state pension compared to around 85 per cent of men. The Labour government has pledged to end this historic injustice with a new pensions settlement, which will also include restoring the basic state pension's link to earnings in the next parliament.
Dr Francis said;
"Under Labour's plans around 600 extra women currently aged between 46 and 56 in Aberavon - and around 300,000 across Wales will retire with a full basic state pension. That is great news which will make a big difference to people in Aberavon coming up to retirement - that is why I voted for the pensions bill in the House of Commons this week to end the historic injustice that currently sees the majority of women who have taken time out to look after their family unable to retire with a full basic state pension. I am very pleased that we are able to press on with these important changes in the Pensions Bill."
