Poorer pensioners have benefited most the minister said

The minister, new to the job at the most recent government reshuffle, told delegates the lot of the UK's pensioners had improved considerably since 1997.

Delegates listened in polite silence for most of the speech but jeered loudly when he made his claim.

Mr Wicks stressed government pension reforms were working but dismissed the idea of restoring the link between earnings and increases in the state pension.

Pension flaws

Speaking on the first day of the three-day event, which is organised by the National Pensioners Convention, Mr Wicks told the 2,000 delegates that the basic state pension will remain but its flaws must be recognised and addressed.

Mr Wicks said the government had been concentrating on lifting the poorest pensioners out of poverty.

"The poorest third of pensioner households will have gained �1,600 a year in real terms," the minister said.

But in a question and answer session following the speech, delegates asked why the government had not simply restored the earnings link to pension increases rather than introducing a series of means-tested credits.

"We could spread the money we have across all pensioners, including some who are quite well off, as well as the poor," Mr Wicks said in response.

"What we have chosen to do is to improve the retirement pension as best we can but to concentrate on the poorest pensioners."

Andrew Verity, BBC News personal finance reporter attending the conference, said much of Mr Wicks best efforts fell on deaf ears.

"In spite of his best efforts Mr Wicks was given a rough ride.

"He tried to tell them that the government was spending �9bn more in real terms on pensioners but was met with jeers of disbelief."