Letter: Defending pensions

Defending pensions

Sir: From much of the media's coverage of the Liberal Democrats' conference I can understand why Mr Fuller (letter, 14 October) might think that we have not paid any attention to pensioners, but this is quite misleading.

The longest debate of our whole conference was on the subject of social security, with a major discussion on pensions. As a result, the conference whole-heartedly endorsed a package of measures including immediate and substantial increases in the state pension for older pensioners, together with steps to protect tomorrow's pensioners from poverty. Given the apparent commitment of the Labour government to continuing the Tory policy of linking the basic pension to prices and thereby gradually phasing it out, the Liberal Democrats are now the only major party with a long-term commitment to the basic state pension.

STEVE WEBB MP

(Northavon, Lib Dem)

House of Commons

London SW1