Call for change in way pension increases are calculated

A politician has urged the States of Jersey to calculate rises in pensions differently.

Senator Alan Breckon said the cost of food and heating had risen greatly, hitting pensioners particularly hard.

Currently, the annual pension increase is calculated by how much islanders' average earnings go up.

However, the senator wants it to be whichever is higher out of average earnings, the inflation rate for pensioners or 2.5%.

In Senator Breckon's proposition, he said: "I believe this issue is too important to many pensioners to be left to a minister or department to dither about and deliberate for years.

"Something needs to be agreed by the States soon to have it in place by mid-2012 so that it can come into effect in October 2012."

The States will debate the proposal on 1 November.