An SNP MSP has claimed that pensions will be better in an independent Scotland.

IN a statement to the Largs & Millport Weekly News Mr Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North criticised the level of pensions in Britain.

He stated: "Of course, the UK has been less than generous in providing for pensioners. State pensions in the UK are provided at only 32% of average earnings, the lowest share in the EU and around the same share as in Mexico. In landlocked Austria, a country with few natural resources, the proportion is 76.7%. "The SNP is committed to delivering the “triple lock” for pensions for at least the duration of the first independent Scottish Parliament if it wins the 2016 independence election. This means that the state pension will rise each year by average earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is the highest. This is to protect pensioners from below inflation increases, such as the 75p a week given in 2000 by then Chancellor and now strident No campaigner Gordon Brown." Mr Gibson said there was a fully comprehensive 135 page document detailing both state and private pension provision at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00434502.pdf He added that it included what provision would be put in place for cross-border pension schemes in an independent Scotland.