PENSION FACT SHEET 13
Issued on behalf of British Age Pensioner Alliance, these Fact Sheets support the 20 year story of the fight for PARITY by 540,500 UK State Pensioners.  Why should they be deprived of annual indexation of their pensions because they live in certain countries while another 565,000,living in other countries, are not ?

Lord Beveridge, in his November 1942 report, on which the UK pension system was founded, established a fundamental principle
‘all insured people, rich or poor, would pay the same contributions for the same security.’

Norman Fowler, as Minister of Social Security, confirming Lord Beveridge, in the Green Paper on "Reform of Social Security". June 1985 also said
"All insured people, rich or poor, would pay the same contributions for the same security."

Ian Mc Cartney, MP for Makerfield, in June 1993 when in Opposition confirmed that Labour's policy is
"to ensure equality of treatment to all British pensioners who live abroad in Countries outside the European Community"

Jack Straw, when Home Secretary in 1998 regarding the Human Rights Act
‘‘everyone gets the same set of basic guarantees from our public services, whoever we are and wherever we live."

Gordon Brown, speaking in December 2004 at the Pope Paul VI memorial lecture, CAFOD, London
"In the coming weeks, I will set out how I, and our party, and our government, and our country, must rise to conquer those challenges and ensure fairness for all."

Lord Carswell in the House of Lords hearing, 27 May 2005
‘It is a matter of simple justice between groups of people who have paid the same contributions. . .’

Lord Goodhart QC in pensions debate House of Lords 25 October 2005
‘But that does not alter the principle, which I believe is that there is an implicit contract between the contributors and the state—not a legal contract, but an understanding that the contributors will make payments, and in return for that the state will pay them a pension.’

Gordon Brown, at the commission for Africa Meeting in Cape Town, January 2005
"What is morally wrong cannot be economically right" and "Human Rights are Universal and no injustice of Rights can last forever"

Gordon Brown, during the Fair Rules debate September 2008
"In Britain, we have always believed there can never be one rule for some, and another rule for others." and "Fairness is in our DNA”

Gordon Brown, in a Cabinet meeting, December2008
"I will not turn my back on those who need help. This is not about rhetoric. It's about fairness and unfairness. Fairness is my purpose, my pride, my principle"

Ms Yvette Cooper MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, sent an email to Labour party members stating, amongst other things
“Our commitment to fairness and progressive values isn't opportunistic and cynical. It is deep, real and backed up by action”

For more information, log on to the web site

http://www.britishpensions.org.au/

or email info@britishpensions.org.au