Alex Salmond MSP on a recent visit to an Aberdeenshire food bank
Aberdeenshire East MSP Alex Salmond says Scottish pensioners will be better off in an independent Scotland after considerable cuts to Savings Credit by the UK Government. Submitted by Ann-Marie Parry, Parliamentary Assistant, Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP
Benefits for the north-east’s poorest pensioners have been reduced by £3million since 2010, with a cut of £90million for Scotland as a whole.
Research by the House of Commons Library has shown 50,000 Scottish pensioners have lost benefits since 2010 with a cut of £90 million to Savings Credit, and pensioners across Scotland will lose out further as the benefit is to be scrapped for all new pensioners in 2016.
The cut has had a substantial impact on pensioners in every part of Scotland with 1,900 fewer people receiving it in Aberdeenshire – a reduction of £3,075,344.
Savings Credit is paid to poorer pensioners who have saved for their retirement. A single pensioner could receive up to £20.52 per week, or £27.09 per week for a couple.
As set out in the White Paper Scotland’s Future, following a Yes vote the Scottish Government will provide Scotland’s pensioners with a guaranteed pension of £160 a week from 2016-17, a triple lock and the continuation of Savings Credit.
Mr Salmond said:
“Scotland’s pensioners who have worked hard for their retirement are being hit hardest by these cuts.
“The UK Government has taken away £90million from some of Scotland’s most vulnerable residents since 2010 and in Aberdeenshire alone the benefit has been slashed by more than £3million.
“There are now 1,900 fewer recipients of savings credit in Aberdeenshire than there were four years ago despite Scotland paying more in taxes in each of the last 30 years than the rest of the UK.
“It is a pity that the people who have made these contributions and are now in retirement are not enjoying the benefits of their hard work.
“A Yes vote in September will mean that Scotland’s wealth can work for the people who live here – which includes a fairer welfare system and greater protection for our pensions.”
- Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.
[Aberdeen Voice accepts and welcomes contributions from all sides/angles pertaining to any issue. Views and opinions expressed in any article are entirely those of the writer/contributor, and inclusion in our publication does not constitute support or endorsement of these by Aberdeen Voice as an organisation or any of its team members.]
Why is it, when the countries woes were inflicted by incompetent Westminster politicians and inept bankers, that the poorest in society have to pay for the mistakes made? Just a thought.
Have to agree it should not be the poorest who should pay Ron and there can be no doubt that the banks, who were responsible for such woes, should have been better regulated by government. Your reference to Westminster and your previously and oft stated nationalist sentiments, however, suggest that you feel the Scottish Government might have been more responsible when, in fact, Alex Salmond had been openly lobbying for less and lighter regulation of the banks prior to the calamitous crash.
The possible consequences of an independent Scotland, with no lender of last resort, having to deal with such a scenario in the future is something all voters should consider. The consequences of an independent Scotland not having a broad enough tax base to fund future pensions might be too frightening to consider but a very real possibility nevertheless.
A hiv ti agree wi yer sentiments Bruce.