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Help the Aged today called for a government target to give reducing pensioner poverty the same emphasis as cutting child poverty in this year’s comprehensive spending review.

The charity wants a top-level public service agreement target for government departments to reduce pensioner poverty, along the lines of the target to halve child poverty by 2010.

A survey of pensioners last month by the charity found half did not see contents insurance for their homes as a necessity.

Last month, the charity tabled an early day motion calling for action on tackling pensioner poverty, which has so far been signed by 20 MPs.