AGE CONCERN'S THE PRICE OF NO ADVICE CAMPAIGN

Motion Text

That this House wishes to highlight the aims of Age Concern's campaign to increase older people's access to information and advice services; notes that such services can greatly improve older people's lives but are gaining less funding at a time when the need for the service is increasing; further notes with concern that 2.1 million pensioners continue to live in poverty yet £4.7 billion of income-related benefits and allowances are unclaimed; commends Age Concern for helping older people to receive over £100 million in unclaimed support in 2007-08; calls on the Government to place more responsibility on local authorities and primary care trusts to underpin information, advice and advocacy services to ensure older people are well-informed; and asks the Government to make reducing pensioner poverty a national performance indicator for local authorities.