During Work and Pension Questions on March 2nd, I took the opportunity to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about the independent review of the state pensions age which will be led by Sir John Cridland. The review will make recommendations for the Government to consider, to ensure the future state pension age is fair and affordable in the long term.
It is important that the Government considers the future of the state pension age and I am aware that his review will consider the future of the state pension and this will include changes in life expectancy, as well as wider changes in society in line with statutory provision for a regular set of reviews of the pension age.
This review is part of the Government’s reforms to pensions to ensure that they are affordable for the long term, however when future changes are made to the State Pension Age I would like the Government to ensure that people are aware of changes and that they are not affected by changes less than 10 years before they are due to retire.
You can read my question to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions below:
Nigel Mills, MP for Amber Valley: Does the Secretary of State agree that the advantage of an independent review in every Parliament is that we should be able to give greater visibility to when changes will happen? Will he commit to not having a change with less than 10 years’ notice for those affected?
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mr Iain Duncan Smith: That is exactly the flow of timings at the moment. Sir John Cridland has to consider that, and we want him to look at making sure that such a process happens. We want people to have plenty of notice, and I know recommendations have been made about that. As I said earlier, he will look at that under his terms of reference, as will the next review and so on. I would simply say to my hon. Friend that if he has an issue, he should put it to the review.