Rishi Sunak said he is committed to the triple lock on state pensions although he swerved calls to guarantee it will feature in the next Conservative manifesto.
The triple lock guarantees an increase of the state pension in line with average earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is highest.
Ministers are currently considering whether to strip out the impact of public sector bonuses on the earnings figure, which could mean an increase of around 7.8% rather than 8.5% from April, potentially saving the Government hundreds of millions.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn mocked Mr Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions as he told the Commons: “As someone who spends more money heating their swimming pool than the total value of the UK state pension, I think it’s safe to say that the Prime Minister might not be as invested in this topic as some others.
“But let’s afford him the opportunity to clear up any confusion.
“Will he commit his party, the Conservative Party, to maintaining the state pension triple lock beyond the next general election – yes or no?”
The Prime Minister replied: “This is the party that introduced the triple lock.
“This is the party that has delivered a £3,000 increase in the state pension since 2010.
“It’s also the party that ensured there are 200,000 fewer pensioners living in poverty today and this winter ensuring that pensioners get an extra £300 alongside their winter fuel payment to support them through the challenging times of inflation.
“So our track record is clear: there is one party in this House that has always stood up for our pensioners and that is the Conservative Party.”
Mr Flynn countered: “I don’t think we heard a yes there.
“You’ll imagine my shock, my utter surprise that we appear to have consensus once again between the Conservative Party and Labour Party on this most important of issues, despite the promises that were made to the people of Scotland in 2014 and despite the clear statements from the likes of Gordon Brown that the only way to protect your pension is to remain within the UK.
“How hollow those words are now.”
He went on to ask Mr Sunak: “Who does he think will scrap the state pension triple lock first – his Government or the Labour Party’s government?”
The PM defended the Government’s support for pensioners, adding: “This is the Government that introduced and remains committed to the triple lock.
“But he does raise a good point, pensioners in Scotland should know the reason that they can rely on the state pension not just today but for years to come is because of the strength of our union and the strength of our United Kingdom Government.”
An 8.5% rise in the full new state pension could take it from around £204 per week to £221, or from around £10,600 to around £11,502 annually.
But a smaller rise of 7.8% would instead take it from around £204 per week to around £220, or around £11,427 annually.
A rise in the basic state pension of 8.5% would take it from around £156 per week to just under £170, or from around £8,122 to £8,814 per year.
But a 7.8% rise would mean an increase in the basic state pension to around £168 per week or around £8,756 per year.
Speaking after PMQs, the Prime Minister’s press secretary told reporters in Westminster: “The Government is committed to the triple lock, you just got the PM’s words in the chamber.
“You wouldn’t expect me to write the manifesto here, but you can take the PM’s words and judge us on our record on that.”
Labour said that the Government was facing a “mess of their own making” after making one-off payments part of deals to end strikes earlier this year.
A spokesman for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told reporters: “It has always been the case that one-off payments have been included in the measure of earnings.
“Frankly, one of the reasons why the issue of one-off payments is around at the moment is because of the Government’s total mishandling on the strikes and the public sector one-off payments that there have been clearly shows that the Government did not think about the consequences of the one-off payments they introduced would have in the consideration here.
“But in terms of what they should be doing, then they should be maintaining the triple lock, which is what their promise is. And that means including the figure of wages and one-off payments as earnings.”
The spokesman said that Labour would set out its position on the triple lock closer to the next election.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here