A THINK-TANK founded by Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith wants to increase the state pension age to 75... which is above the life expectancy of men in Glasgow.

The proposal has come from the Centre for Social Justice, co-founded by the former Tory leader who famously visited Glasgow’s Easterhouse in 2002 and became architect of the welfare reform agenda.

Average life expectancy for males in Glasgow is currently 71, but in some of the poorer communities it is even lower.

The think-tank said the cost of state pension in the UK has risen by £75billion over the last 30 years.

It said raising the pension age would also reduce the cost of out of work benefits and boost the economy by having more people working.

The report, Ageing Confidently – Supporting An Ageing Workforce calls for a “reconceptualization of what ageing and old age means”.

It claims the UK is not responding to the needs and potential of an ageing workforce.

Currently, the state pension age is 67 by 2028, rising to 68 by 2046.

The Centre for Social Justice said it is not rising high enough of fast enough. Its recommendations would see the age rise to 70 in 2028 then to 75 by 2035.

It would affect millions of people born between March 6, 1961 and April 5, 1977.

Andy Cook, chief executive of the think-tank, said: “Working longer has the potential to improve health and wellbeing, increase retirement savings and ensure the full functioning of public services for all.”

“Right now, we are not doing enough to help older people stay in work and the state pension age doesn’t even closely reflect healthy working life expectancy.

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“All generations deserve to be supported in their choices and the current lack of support for older members of the UK workforce is both socially inexcusable and economically short sighted.

“By increasing the State Pension Age, we can help people stay in gainful and life enhancing employment while also making a sound long term financial decision.”

Life expectancy has been rising in the UK since the 1960s, from just over 70 to above 80.

In Scotland, however, it is younger, with people dying an average of two years earlier than the rest of the UK. In Glasgow the life expectancy figures are even lower. Average life expectancy for men in the city is 71 and for women 78.

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Under the think-tank proposals men in the city would be expected to die four years before they receive a penny in state pension.

Chris Stephens, Glasgow South West SNP MP, is a member of the Westminster work and pensions committee.

He said: “This is a work- until-you-drop plan. They are confusing life expectancy with working life expectancy. Someone in a physically demanding job can’t work until 75.”

And the life expectancy gap was noted by a former government minister.

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Ros Altmann, former pensions minister, said: “This might be a great way to save public money, but will cause a lot of hardship.

“There are huge differences in life expectancy across Britain. There must be a facility for those who can’t work to retire earlier.”

The think-tank report also recommends a range of measures to improve working conditions for the ageing workforce.

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It includes enhanced healthcare support through improvements in occupational health, training in mental health first aid and further support for those aged 55 and over from the Work and Health Programme.

Increased access to flexible working and increased access to training opportunities through a proposed Personal Learner Account – a scheme to incentivise adult learning.

The paper comes as it was revealed the Government saves £60million a year in unclaimed pension credits in Glasgow, as reported in Saturday’s Evening Times.