10:58am Thursday 17th January 2008
By Rob Devey
BOLTON North-east MP David Crausby is backing a call to restore the link between pensions and earnings.
Mr Crausby marked the centenary of the state pension by adding his signature to a House of Commons early day motion demanding the change sooner than currently planned in 2012.
Paying tribute to the pension pioneers who campaigned from 1898 until 1908 to secure the first state pension, he said: "We have done a lot for pensioners already, with free off-peak travel, the winter fuel allowance, the minimum income guarantee and help with council tax bills.
"But the basic state pension is still the key issue.
"I am urging the Government to consider restoring the link between pensions and earnings earlier than announced in order to help pensioners, particularly those entirely dependent on the basic state pension."
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