Commenting on reports over the weekend that the UK Government is to bring forward the introduction of the single tier pension to April 2016, Age Cymru’s Director of Influencing and Programme Development Victoria Lloyd says:

"The UK Government's plan to bring forward the implementation of the single tier pension April 2016 is welcome but modest, and we look forward to hearing more detail in this Wednesday's budget.

"The single tier pension goes a long way to ensure a safer fairer system and help people better plan for retirement but it is important that the UK Government does not overlook the needs of the millions of current pensioners who are also struggling to make ends meet.

“With 1.7million older people living in poverty UK-wide, a clear strategy and timetable for the reduction and abolition of current pensioner poverty - from both the Welsh and Westminster Governments is urgently needed."