Pensions scandal

Published: 4th February, 2011

• THERE is a great deal of discussion, both nationally and locally, about pay. 

The Tribune reported (January 14) that Professor Richard Wilkinson said after the last Fairness Commission that it needed to “narrow its focus” and concentrate on bridging the pay gap.

Readers may be interested to note that a single pensioner gets £95 a week and a couple £150 a week for the equivalent of a pay packet. It is called the state pension. 

If this were translated into an hourly rate based on an average 35-hour working week it would become £2.71 an hour for a single pensioner and even less – £2.14 an hour – for the couple considered as individuals.

This is well below the national minimum wage or the London living allowance and is scandalous.
JOHN WORKER
Secretary, Islington Pensioners Forum