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Citizen's Pension

Who's talking about it?

Senator Bob Brown, the leader of the Australian Green Party, has again this week asked the government to increase state pensions by $30 a week, something he asks for on a regular basis (he asked again less than two weeks ago). He notes the government has recently spent $31 billion on inflationary tax cuts, $41 billion on "future funds" for infrastructure and $22 billion on defence, but has given zero to lift the AU$273 per week pension.

Although $30 a week (around £7.50) does not seem much, in an aging population where many pensioners have to choose between heat or food, an extra few pounds are welcome.

The state of pensions at present

According to the UK's Guardian newspaper, only 13% of women presently receive the full state pension, as men need to have paid 40 years of National Insurance contributions and women must have paid for 35 years - many women take career breaks to bring up children or care for older relatives, and part-time work harms a person's pension.

Yet according to the Pensions Policy Institute, "A Citizen's Pension would provide a swift, simple and sustainable remedy for the problems in our state pension system".

What is a Citizen's Pension?

This is not a new idea. It has been around for almost 70 years in New Zealand where poverty amongst seniors is 5% (compared to the UK's 20%).

Simple, fair and cheap to run, a Citizen's Pension departs from the outdated laws set for original pensions, which assumed that women did not go out to work. Yet present pensions are also unfair for women who choose to stay at home to raise children, and care later in life for older relatives and disabled children, as it is based on National Insurance contributions (which The Green Party would scrap).

How much would pensioners receive?

A Citizen's Pension would give a flat rate income to every person who reached pension age (age 60 under Green policy), at a rate of around 25% of national income (it's well above 30% in New Zealand). Presently, this would work out in the UK at around £100 - this would lift most pensioners out of poverty, and there would be housing benefit on top of this, plus free eye and dental care.

What if I want to carry on working?

Pensioners would also be free to carry on working if they wish (and not have the Citizen's Pension removed), although they would be taxed on earnings above a certain amount.

The bureaucratic systems of Pension Credits and SERPS would be removed (along with National Insurance), placing qualification instead on residency (usually 20 years). Anyone not qualifying on residency would then go through a means-tested process to receive enough money to live on.

What about the UK government lump sum incentives?

The UK government's proposal to offer a lump sum of £30,000 to people who continue to work until age 70, was examined by Green Audit and Dr Molly Scott (Green Party economic advisor) who worked out that if every UK pensioner took this up (bearing in mind that some people may die before age 70, so would not see any benefits), the raised taxation compared to the lump sum payouts would leave the government coffers with an extra £0.7 billion - for asking seniors to work five years more!

How would The Green Party pay for a Citizen's Income?

By scrapping tax relief on private pension schemes, to bring in £15 billion (split between UK pensioners, this would work out at around an extra £23 per person each week, with immediate effect). It is important to note that The Green Party would give each person the full Citizen's Pension whether single or married (i.e. if a single person received £100, a married couple would receive £200). This is not comparable with other parties, most would reduce the rate for married couples to £160 or similar.

What else would The Green Party do?

Greens would form Local Community Pension Schemes (run by councils) to offer fixed bonds (invested in public transport etc) and equity shares (in local businesses). Subscribers would receive annual statements , plus the rate to expect when they retire (this would be in addition to a Citizen's Pension).

People would be free to join private pension schemes (although there would no longer be tax relief), but the income you receive at retirement would not be taxed.

Finally, The Green Party would set up a Pensioners Rights Unit to ensure that every pensioner in the community was receiving the full benefits they are entitled to (it is estimated that presently, over 50% of pensioners are not receiving all their benefits, mainly due to bureaucratic confusion).

Green MEP turns up the heat at climate change conference

Green MEP (and parliamentary candidate for Brighton and Hove) Caroline Lucas has made an excellent appearance on a panel evening run by the World Development Foundation, calling on world leaders to leave behind destructive free market economics and move towards a greener approach to global trade.

Speaking from the first in a series of "Turning Up The Heat" conferences, she was joined by Stewart Wallis of the New Economics Foundation.

Watch or listen to the conference (after the rather long pre-amble)

New Zealand Greens secure funding for antiobiotic surveillance system

New Zealand Green MPs have secured $4 million funding over 4 years to establish an antiobiotic-resistance surveillance system.

Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley says, "Many antibiotics have lost their power against common bacteria. Common strains of salmonella, E.coli and staphylococcus are becoming resistant to a wide variety of antibiotics. Scientists say it is only a matter of time before antiobiotics will become ineffective in treating many human diseases. If we don't move swiftly and antibiotic resistance continues to spread at its current rate, microbiologists warn we will squander the greatest medical advance of the 20th century".

Sue added, "To keep antibiotics working for people who need them, it's vital to stop feeding antibiotics that are significant to human medicines to millions of healthy animals".

New Zealand Green MPs win stricter food import controls

New Zealand Green MPs have secured $2.4 billion funding over 4 years to improve monitoring and testing of the 2.5 million tons of food that is imported into the country.

Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley says, "The new funding will enable the authority to extend its monitoring and testing regimes, to imported foods other than those considered high risk..

Consumers have become concerned about the safety of some imported foods as a result of repeated food contamination scares overseas and a lack of transparency in the production and processing systems of some countries. The enhanced regime will include a new system which will use complaints, recalls, new research, health scares or border rejections - to alert NZFSA to foods that may warrant closer inspection".

Canadian Greens ask MPs to reject upcoming C-52 Bill

Elizabeth May, Canada's Green Party leader is asking MPs to oppose the upcoming C-52 Bill, designed to make it more difficult for consumers to choose natural health products and vitamins over pharmaceutical drugs. She says, "Bill C-51 radically alters the Food and Drugs Act in ways that would allow government to control and restrict natural products, including herbs, vitamins and even foods like blueberries..The text of Bill C051 is rife with Orwellian doublespeak. It is worded to confuse".

Acting Health Promotion speaker Jake Cole adds, "Those who use natural health products to obtain relief from medical conditions are doomed to suffer. The Green Party opposes any move to force pharmaceuticals on Canadians who prefer natural products".

Australian Greens question GE crops

The Australian Greens today outlined concerns over the growing of genetically engineered crops. One Senator said, "We are being told about a 10% productivity increase with the use of GE canola, but this figure is nothing more than an assumption, averaged out from various field trials and commercial studies. A more evidence-based RIRDC report published in 2005 shows that no individual Australian farmers will be better off with GM.

This report has no critical analysis of the larger impact GE crops could have on our agricultural sector and the environment. By failing to show both sides of the debate, the report is fundamentally flawed by failing to take into account markets that refuse to take GE products, such as Europe and increasingly Japan. There is clearly a large sector of the Australian public who are against genetic engineering, and yet this report is insisting that we jump headlong into GE crops".

Australia's Green leader calls for Global Disaster Relief Centre

Senator Bob Brown (Australian Greens leader) today wrote to Prime Minister Rudd, calling on the government to establish a Global Disaster Relief Centre to help neighbouring countries.

He says, "As one of the wealthiest countries in the region, Australia should establish a Global Disaster Relief Centre to coordinate civil and military aid responses to disasters like cyclones, floods, bushfires, earthquakes and tsunamis...It would ensure a much faster reaction and a much greater capability to target assistance to our neighbours during emergencies and to coordinate disaster responses within Australia".

New Zealand Green Health Spokesperson calls for better food labelling

New Zealand Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says the recent finding that 58% of food labelling is incorrect is concerning. "Consumers have a right to accurate information about what is in their food, and how it's been produced.

Poor nutrition and an unhealthy food environment are the most significant causes of preventable deaths in New Zealand so it is vital that consumers know exactly what is contained in food products so they can make informed purchasing decisions"

Irish Limerick Councillor calls for Green Routes Plan to stay

Irish Green Party rep Trish Forde-Brennan has expressed surprise that the Limerick Green Routes Plan has been delayed by two years.

She says, "There seems to be a lack of joined up thinking when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and finding alternative transport options for the city and suburbs... As oil becomes more expensive, every single one of us will be looking for ways to reduce the cost of travelling.

The Green Party prioritises public transport because it is cheaper, more efficient, reduces carbon emission and traffic problems".

UK Green Party Health spokesperson says children's future must not be held to ransom over MMR jabs

UK Green Party Health Spokesperson Stuart Jeffery said today he was concerned by a Labour MP's proposal of freezing child benefits and school attendance, if children do not receive the MMR innoculation.

Stuart says, "Child benefit is a life line for poorer families. Reducing this for whatever reason simply increases child poverty, and will serve only to penalise children for the actions of their parents. A child's acces to education is a fundamental human right, and one that must not be based on any external conditions, such as medical intervention. This proposal would effectively be holding a child's future to ransom.

An effective programme of vaccination is a key plank to improving public health, and should be achieved through good clinical evidence, scientific persuasion and public trust".