Chairman, Sir Roger Gale MP, invites all parliamentarians to join APPG

July 24, 2015 Frozen Pensions 0 Comments

APPG Chairman, Sir Roger Gale MP, has this week written to all MPs and Lords inviting them to join the APPG. In his letter he said:

“Due to a quirk of history, half the eligible pensioners living overseas receive annual uprating payments, just as those living in the UK do, the other half do not. In my view this is an unjust situation, leaving British people, who have made the required contributions during their working lives, with a diminishing income throughout their retirement.

“It is all the worse given the disproportionate impact on British ethnic minority communities, as the countries affected are typically Commonwealth ones, to which an increasing number of individuals wish to return, having come to work here in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

“The APPG on Frozen British Pensions is a parliamentary campaign group bringing together Members from every party who want to see a change to the government’s existing policy. Towards the end of the last parliament we made significant progress towards a sustainable and affordable solution, there is therefore a real opportunity to secure historic change in the months and years ahead.

“You are most welcome to join the APPG as a signal of your support for those who have written to you on this issue. But I hope that you might also be prepared to join us as an active member, to help us build momentum behind this important campaign through regular parliamentary and media activity. I anticipate that we will meet formally 5-6 times a year.”