8,812 LOCAL PENSIONERS WOULD GET £100 A MONTH BOOST FROM LIB DEMS

5.07.50pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 10th Mar 2005

8,812 pensioners in West Berkshire - those aged over 75 - would get more than £100 a month extra on their pension, or more than £140 a month for a pensioner couple, under plans announced by the Liberal Democrats today.

Commenting, David Rendel MP said:

"It is time older people were treated with the respect they deserve by politicians.

"Our proposals would lift the most vulnerable pensioners out of poverty and tackle the scandal whereby so many women pensioners are not entitled to a basic pension in their own right.

"We are committed to abolition of the Council Tax, exempting six million pensioners from having to pay local taxes at all. It is sad that the Tories have refused to join us in this policy. But perhaps this is no surprise, since after all they are the ones who introduced the Council Tax in the first place.

"And we think it is wrong that many elderly people are forced to sell their homes to pay for their care. I was outraged when Conservative MPs joined with the Government to vote down free personal care for the elderly. I am committed to ensuring that that decision is reversed."

ENDS

NOTE:

According to Government statistics, 8,812 pensioners in West Berkshire are over the age of 75 and would therefore benefit from the Liberal Democrat pension proposals announced today.