Labour Leaving Welsh Pensioners Falling Behind Rest of UK

12.00.00am GMT Wed 7th Nov 2007

Today, Jenny Willott MP released figures showing that the proportion of pensioners living in poverty Wales has gone from being the lowest in the UK 10 years ago, to the highest in the UK today.

The figures were contained in answers to Parliamentary Questions from Miss Willott, which show that in 1997, 26% of Welsh pensioner households were living in poverty compared to 31% in Scotland and 28% in England. In 2006, these positions had reversed with England and Scotland with 18% of pensioner households in poverty compared to 20% for Wales.

There are currently 110,000 pensioner households living in poverty in Wales.

Commenting, Jenny said:

"While some progress has been made, under Labour Welsh pensioners are falling behind Scotland and England.

"As well as having the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK, Wales now has the highest level of pensioner poverty.

"Labour seem content for Wales to be the poor man of the UK. It's time for action to be taken before Wales sinks even further behind."