If the pension reform was not being worked on, then those born before 1962 would not have a liveable pension, Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia said in Parliament.

He said that in the coming months, government will implement their pension reforms.

The Minister was replying to several Parliamentary Questions fired by Opposition members, including Kristy Debono, Robert Cutajar and Anthony Agius Decelis.

Minister Farrugia said that government will never call poverty a perception as long as a single person is at risk. He also said that the latest statistics show that for the first time in ten years, there was a reduction in those at risk of poverty and social exclusion.

He attributed the decline to a number of government initiatives, including the tapering of benefits.

The Minister also argued that the number of those at risk of poverty actually rose to 100,000 in 2012 and not now.

The Minister also mentioned a study in the evaluation of means testing for non-contributory benefit.

He also said that he is looking into giving value to certain things which are not taken into consideration when one speaks of poverty and social exclusion statistics. As examples, he mentioned free childcare and the Breakfast club.