Pensioner incomes fail to keep pace with cost of living

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jul 2008

Commenting on Office of National Statistics figures that reveal the increase in the cost of living outstripped pensioner income last year, Jenny Willott, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary and MP for Cardiff Central, said:

"If the value of the state pension continues to fall behind the cost of living we will see more and more pensioners in Wales slipping into poverty.

"The link between the basic state pension and earnings must be restored immediately, yet Labour and the Conservatives continue to block it.

"It is a complete disgrace. Our pensioners deserve a more generous pension now, not in seven years time."