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Don Foster MP - Bath's #1 Supporter
Foster welcomes pensions boost for over 6,500 self employed people in Bath
Don Foster has welcomed the news that over 6,500 self employed people in Bath will benefit from pensions reforms being debated by MPs this week, which will bring in a simpler, fairer state pension for future pensioners.
Introduced by Liberal Democrat Pensions Minister Steve Webb, the new single tier pension will treat self employed people fairly for the first time. In the past, self employed people missed out on a higher state pension because they could not qualify for the second state pension, despite having paid National Insurance contributions all their lives. This left them relying on a basic state pension of just £107 a week.
Under the new system, anyone who has 35 years of working or caring will qualify for a decent, flat rate pension of £144 a week. The reforms will also treat men and women equally for the first time, with 750,000 women getting an average £9 a week extra within the first ten years of its introduction.
It will be set above the basic level of the means test and will value unpaid caring work just as much as a high-flying city job.
Commenting, Don Foster said:
“Now, 6,653 self employed people in Bath who chose to get on with running their own business will be properly rewarded for their contributions and will not lose out later in life. This is especially good news as it comes alongside the Coalition’s triple lock, which has given pensioners the biggest cash increase ever in the state pension and increases the state pension by inflation, prices or earnings, whichever is higher.
“I am delighted that these pension reforms, coming from a Liberal Democrat minister, will create a simpler and fairer state pension. For too long, hard-working self employed people and carers have been getting a raw deal, despite the incredibly valuable contribution they make to our economy.
“I am proud to see the Liberal Democrats in Government restoring fairness and simplicity to our state pension system.”
Foster welcomes Million Jobs Campaign Launch
Don Foster, MP for Bath, has welcomed the Liberal Democrat Million Jobs Campaign, which was launched by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.
More than one million private sector jobs have been created since the Coalition Government came to power. Liberal Democrats are now aiming to create a million more, building on what they have already achieved in the Coalition Government.
- Don and Nick Clegg talk to Rotork apprentices in Bath
Business Secretary, Vince Cable has overseen a record rise in apprenticeships, including over 2,600 apprentices in Bath and North East Somerset.
To support jobs in manufacturing, £5.5bn extra has been invested into science, high-tech manufacturing and renewable energy and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander has introduced £2,000 cash back on National Insurance contributions for employers who take on more staff.
Commenting, Don Foster said:
“Here in Bath, we have seen an incredible rise in apprenticeships and I want to see it continue, along with growth in the number of jobs. I look forward to working with local businesses, community groups and schools and colleges to turn this ambition into reality in Bath.
“The Liberal Democrats are building a stronger economy in a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life.
“That’s why Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have helped businesses create more than one million private sector jobs, and now we’re working to help them create a million more.”
Foster backs Gurkha Reserves for a stronger future Armed Forces
Don Foster, MP for Bath, has joined the campaign to open up the Reserves to retired Gurkhas, so they can lead the way in making the future Reserve forces more skilled and stronger than ever.
The MoD plans to fully integrate 30,000 fully-trained Reserves into the Regular Army by 2020, but Don Foster believes we need to do more to achieve this. As Nepalese citizens, the well-respected Gurkhas do not currently have a Reserve liability, unlike other soldiers.
Alongside former Lib De
m Defence Minister Nick Harvey, Don Foster is calling on the Ministry of Defence to retain the Gurkhas’ unique skills by putting them into the Regular Reserve in recognition of their service. As part of the Regular Reserves they can lead the way in building the Territorial Army and the Regular Reserve into the new Future Reserves.
This will send a strong signal that the new, rejuvenated Reserve force is more robust and deployment-ready than ever.
Commenting, Don Foster said:
“The Reserves are in need of a huge culture shift and recruitment drive if we are to successfully incorporate them into the future shape of the Army. Gurkhas are one of the most well-respected and revered parts of our Army. For no particular reason, we don’t routinely recruit them into the Reserves.
“The Gurkhas have fought for nearly 200 years for the British Army and half of the Victoria Crosses handed out since 1911 have gone to Gurkha soldiers. How better to build on the Gurkhas’ legacy in the Army than extending the same Reserve Liability as other soldiers receive, and offering them the possibility of a second Army career as a Reservist?”
