LAST weekend, the former Pensions Minister Ros Altmann created headlines by criticising the Government’s commitment to the state pension ‘triple lock’. I think that the former Minster is wrong and believe that the triple lock is important both practically and symbolically.

In layman’s terms the ‘triple lock’ is the commitment to increasing state pensions each year by either inflation, average earnings or 2.5 per cent, whichever is highest – this year the rise was 2.9 per cent because average earnings growth was strong.

Having the triple lock could be used as an easy symbol for some politicians to point at to claim they are looking after pensioners and therefore avoid the need to engage in more serious and in-depth policymaking for the ageing population. We must not let that happen and must engage as much as possible with everyone; this is especially important for Wiltshire, where we have an above average ageing population as many younger people are forced to move away to find work or cheaper housing.

I supported the last Government’s protection of universal pensioner benefits and was pleased that this Government has committed to protecting them throughout this Parliament as well. Cold Weather Payments have also been increased, and the Warm Home Discount introduced to provide vulnerable pensioners with an £140 rebate on their energy bills. Alongside this, members of defined contribution pension schemes are no longer forced to buy an annuity if they don’t want one, and the punitive 55 per cent tax rate for those drawing down more than their tax-free lump sum has been scrapped.

As always, there is still more to do and I recently joined some constituents and other ‘WASPI’ women from across the country to campaign for better transitional changes to their state pension age at a demonstration outside Parliament. I have been working with local members of this particular group of women who had their state pension delayed – in some cases twice and by up to six years in total – without sufficient notice to plan for an alternative income.

Last week I also met with Melksham’s Seniors’ Forum and regularly engage with the Bradford on Avon Seniors’ Forum and similar groups in Chippenham and Corsham. I absolutely recognise the contribution that our older generation have made and continue to make especially at a local level providing much of the army of volunteers that local charities need. We must ensure that everyone has opportunities throughout their lives as well as security and dignity in their retirement. This was a key pledge during my election campaign and it is a pledge that I intend to keep.

n I hold surgeries every Friday as well as regular meetings throughout the constituency. To book an appointment please call (01249) 704465 or email michelle.donelan.mp@parliament.uk