Ritchie ‘continues fight’ on pensions entitlements
Having already tabled a Parliamentary Motion, the SDLP MP for South Down Margaret Ritchie has raised the issue of the discrepancy in pension contributions, for those people in Northern Ireland who worked before the age of sixteen, with the Leader of the House of Commons Andrew Lansley MP.
Ritchie said, “It must be recognised that the working age was raised to fifteen in Great Britain in 1947, ten years before such a measure was taken in Northern Ireland.
“Therefore the impact of contributions made before reaching sixteen years not counting towards pensions clearly has a disproportionate impact on people in Northern Ireland given the earlier working age that existed for ten years.”
“Having already tabled a motion on this issue, I have raised my concerns with the Leader of the House of Commons, Andrew Lansley MP.
“I have strongly encouraged Mr. Lansley to raise the issue with the Department of Work and Pensions to investigate the possibility of redressing this discrepancy via legislation in Parliament.
“I am pleased that Mr. Lansley has agreed to take my concerns to the Department of Work and Pensions,” she added.
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