Clause 2 — Entitlement to state pension at full or reduced rate

Part of Pensions Bill (Programme) (No. 3) – in the House of Commons at 3:47 pm on 17 March 2014.

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Photo of Sheila Gilmore Sheila Gilmore Labour, Edinburgh East 3:47, 17 March 2014

This matter came to my attention through a constituent who was in exactly this position, and the Minister will be aware that I raised it in Committee. The amendment is an enabling amendment rather than a prescriptive amendment, and even if there are only a few people who will be in that position, is it not worth making provision for them? Not everybody will necessarily enter the labour force at 18, particularly with greater further education and so on, so reaching 35 years might be quite difficult for some people. If there is a small number, as the Minister keeps telling us, I do not understand the objection to the amendment.