REPORT REVEALS PENSIONER POVERTY SHAME

REPORT REVEALS PENSIONER POVERTY SHAME

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson John Mason MP has seized on the publication of a report today by the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee which criticises the benefits system as a key cause of poverty - with some 1.7m pensioners failing to claim money to which they are entitled.

The Commons Committee report follows the publication of European statistics earlier this week showing that the number of pensioners living in poverty in the UK is among the highest in Europe with the over-65s in poorer countries, including Romania and Poland faring better.

Mr Mason, the MP for Glasgow East, said:

"The benefits system has failed poor pensioners, and the UK Government is just not doing enough to help lift people out of poverty. After twelve years in government Labour has failed to close the gap between rich and poor created during the Tory years.

"It is outrageous that the complexities of the benefits system have actually discouraged millions of older people from claiming state entitlements that they should properly receive. The system that should be helping people in poverty is actually working against them.

"No issue underlines more why Scotland must have full responsibility for all tax, spending and social welfare issues so that we can tackle the scourge of poverty.

"The Scottish Government is doing everything it can with the powers that are available to it. Practical steps, like freezing the Council Tax, ending food preparation charges, and extending action to end fuel poverty, are delivering - and we will do more.

"There is enormous political goodwill towards fighting poverty, and yet the UK government has failed to match its talk with action. Scotland has the will to eradicate poverty but we are being held back by a tax and benefits system that is failing thousands of people.”

MASON LAMBASTS LABOUR OVER PENSIONER POVERTY

MASON LAMBASTS LABOUR OVER PENSIONER POVERTY

The UK government has been lambasted following the publication of European statistics showing that the number of pensioners living in poverty in the UK is among the highest in Europe with the over-65s in poorer countries, including Romania and Poland faring better.

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson John Mason MP said the figures, which show pensioner poverty in Britain is more than a third higher than the European average, were an appalling legacy after twelve years of a Labour government.

Mr Mason, the MP for Glasgow East, said:

"These figures are an appalling legacy after twelve years of Labour government and show that Labour has singularly failed to close the gap between rich and poor created during the Thatcher years.

"Gordon Brown should hang his head in shame as banking bosses get multi-million pound rewards while pensioners live below the bread-line.

"No issue underlines more why Scotland must have full responsibility for all tax, spending and social welfare issues so that we can tackle the scourge of poverty.

"The Scottish Government is doing everything it can with the powers that are available to it. Practical steps, like freezing the Council Tax, ending food preparation charges, and extending action to end fuel poverty, are delivering - and we will do more.

"There is enormous political goodwill towards fighting poverty, and yet the UK government has failed to match its talk with action. Scotland has the will to eradicate poverty but we are being held back by a tax and benefits system that is failing thousands of people.”

NORWICH GETS NEW MP WHILE GLASGOW GOES WITHOUT

LABOUR LAMBASTED BY ANNIVERSARY MP

Today’s by-election result in Norwich North comes exactly one year to the day that the SNP won Glasgow East with a 22.5 per cent swing from Labour in a by-election that shook Westminster, and as voters in the neighbouring Glasgow North East constituency face a six month wait to elect a new MP.

One year on, SNP by-election victor John Mason MP today (Friday) rounded on Labour for refusing voters in Glasgow North East the chance to elect a new MP until November.

Glasgow North East has been without an MP since former Speaker Michael Martin stood down on 21 June. An attempt by the SNP to move the by-election Writ on the last day before the parliamentary recess was defeated when Labour voted against an early poll. Voters in Norwich went to the polls just 48 days after their former Labour MP resigned – while voters in Glasgow are set to wait 144 days before they can elect a new MP.

Mr Mason said:

“Why should people in Glasgow be left without an MP for six months when voters in Norwich are allowed to elect a new representative within weeks?

“Labour are guilty of the most astonishing arrogance in denying people in Glasgow the chance of an MP on their side at a time when the local community faces serious challenges because of Labour's recession. Issues such as threatened job losses at Port Dundas distillery or school closures by the local Labour council.

"Labour have learnt nothing since their defeat this time last year as the recent vote on Brown's 10p tax showed. They are still taking the support of people in Glasgow for granted.

“Labour had the chance to set an early date for the election last week, but the party objected and voted against giving people in Glasgow their say.

“People in Scotland know that it is the SNP who have delivered real benefits for them and their family and are helping them out in the hard times by freezing the council tax, delivering a record number of police officers, restoring free education, reducing business rates, and abolishing prescription charges.

“In contrast Labour are putting Gordon Brown’s interests before the needs of people in Glasgow and people will see that for what it is.”

LABOUR WELFARE RED TAPE HINDERS PIONEERING BANK PLAN

The UK Government is being urged to make changes to benefits rules which would allow a radical form of banking pioneered in Bangladesh to be brought to Scotland to help people out of poverty.

Proposals by Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Professor Muhammad Yunus to offer small business loans to people without collateral are in doubt because the Department of Work and Pensions has been unable to say what would happen to claimants' welfare payments if they took out a loan. Under current legislation, if someone takes out a business loan, they forfeit their benefits.

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson John Mason MP has written to Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper over fears that the benefits system could stop the Grameen Bank coming to Glasgow . A documentary, Scotland 's Brand New Bank, is to be screened on BBC One tonight (Tuesday) at 2235 BST.

Mr Mason, the MP for Glasgow East, said:

“The Grameen Bank is a revolutionary idea which has lifted millions out of poverty around the world but hit the buffers here because of UK Government bureaucracy.

“If this bank can work in Bangladesh , there is absolutely no good reason why it cannot work here too.

“Under current rules, if someone takes out a business loan, they would forfeit their benefits, and that would clearly discourage many people from starting up their own business.

“This is a plain example of how the benefits system can trap people in the cycle of poverty.

“There is no reason why these rules cannot be changed, and the Department for Work and Pensions must be made to remove these barriers.”