Liberal Democrat Pensions Spokesman, Lord Oakeshott has uncovered figures that show that half of all pensioners face the indignity of means testing. The Government revealed in a parliamentary answer that between 44% and 51% of pensioner households were eligible for the means tested pension credit in 2003-4. The proportion is rising all the time, so virtually half all pensioner households will be subject to means testing today

Lord Oakeshott said:

"The Government must take immediate action in its forthcoming white paper to end the scandal of mass means testing of pensioners. It is outrageous that half of all pensioner households will be subject to means testing.

"Only the solution backed by Lord Turner and the Liberal Democrats of a much improved basic state pension, linked to the growth in average earnings, will protect pensioners in the long term and rebuild incentives to save."