Minimum Income Guarantee

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 4 March 2002.

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Photo of Ian McCartney Ian McCartney Minister for pensions, Department for Work and Pensions 2:30, 4 March 2002

I also represent a mining constituency. The winter fuel payment and the creation of the new pension service and the pension credit are designed to assist retirement pensioners, including those abandoned bythe last Conservative Government in the coalfield communities. In addition, we are working with the National Union of Mineworkers pension trustees to improve basic pensions from the mining fund. It is important that all those building blocks are put in place and we must also improve investment in services in local mining communities, which older people use more than others. Pensioners' income, environment and social and health care are all getting big investments under this Government, and they will continue to get big investments.