North Ayrshire MP Patricia Gibson has called for more financial support for pensioners following retirement.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the SNP MP says pension levels across the UK are among the lowest in Europe, and insists more needs to be done to combat pensioner poverty.

She said: “The UK already has the lowest state pension as a proportion of pre-retirement wages in north west Europe.

“Independent age has highlighted than 5 per cent of pensioner couples and almost 19 per cent of single pensioners have no other income save for their state pension or related benefits.

“Will the minister finally take action to address pensioner poverty and our shocking low state pension levels relative to most of Europe?”

Laura Trott MBE MP, minister for pensions, says support has been put in place for pensioners, including new cost of living payments coming out this year.

She explained: “We do challenge those figures as the honourable lady knows and I would point her to the record increase in state pension which we have just introduced.

“There will be a 10.1 per cent increase in state pension and pension credit which we think will make a real difference in terms of levels of pensioner poverty.

“This is alongside the cost of living payment which is going out this year - £900 for pensioners on pension credit and £300 for all pensioner households.”