GB: No it is not, Grace, and I'm sorry that it has happened
The answer is no, Grace. I'm sorry that that has happened, I hope you are getting the pension credit which is an attempt to make up the pension from what you've had as a result of your earnings being interrupted during the course of your life. What are we doing now? We're going to link pensions to earnings in 2012, so every pension will be linked to earnings and not just prices. Secondly, women, and you are one of them, who have not had the full state pension, we are making it possible for all women in future to have that full state pension. And thirdly, of course, we've got to deal with the poverty that people face as pensioners. That is why the pension credit, the winter fuel allowance, all these things have been introduced. The free concessionary travel as well, the free television licenses over 75, all of these have been introduced over the last few years, because the one thing that scandalises our society above all else is that we cannot give dignity and security to all pensioners in retirement. That's what I want to see and that's what I want to do.

I think Grace's issue is that every woman should have a full state pension. I think it's right that we say that that is what we're going to do as a result of our pension reforms. But it's also the case that everyone who works for an employer will now also have an occupational pension. That is another change we are making that is coming in the parliament to come. When we look at the needs of pensioners, it's absolutely true to say we need help with urgent needs social care in the home. That's what we're introducing over the next few months, so that people don't have to go into old people's homes. If they want to stay at home, they can get the home helps and the health visitors that are necessary for them so that they can have comfort in their own homes. But I've got one or 25 two problems with the other two manifestos of the other parties. David doesn't seem to have mentioned free prescriptions for the elderly or free eye tests. And to be honest, Nick has a problem in his manifesto, because he seems to be cutting the budget of the winter fuel allowance this year. I would like them to explain to the pensioners of this country what in fact they propose to do.

Immediately related elementsHow this works
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Visualizing the Prime Ministerial Debates »Visualizing the Prime Ministerial Debates
Domestic questions »Domestic questions
F. Is £59 per week a reasonable pension? »F. Is £59 per week a reasonable pension?
GB: No it is not, Grace, and I'm sorry that it has happened
Now what are we doing now? »Now what are we doing now?
Due to interruption of earnings during the course of your life »Due to interruption of earnings during the course of your life
Hope that you are getting the pension credit »Hope that you are getting the pension credit
I haven't authorised any scare leaflets »I haven't authorised any scare leaflets
Want to give security and dignity to all pensioners in retirement »Want to give security and dignity to all pensioners in retirement
Gordon Brown (Domestic) »Gordon Brown (Domestic)
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