PENSIONS
The NPC has requested a meeting with the new
secretary of state for work and pensions, James Purnell. We are asking
all MPs to sign Early Day Motion 658 in support of our pension centenary
campaign to raise the basic state pension above the official poverty
line. There are petitions, regional rallies and national events planned.
For more details visit
www.pension100.co.uk.
FROZEN PENSIONS
The NPC continues to support the legal case
currently being taken against the UK government to unfreeze the state
pensions of around 500,000 UK pensioners who live abroad. The unfreezing
would cost around £400m and would entile all pensioners to receive the
annual uprating of their pension - regardless of where they live.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Social care in Britain is currently in
crisis. A postcode lottery exists in the costs, standards and
availability of care in the home and a Green Paper on social care is
expected in the spring. The NPC is working with other interested
organisation to campaign for an end to means-tested social care and for
all porvision to be free. Day two of the forthcoming Pensioners'
Parliament will also focus on this issue in greater detail.
WINTER FUEL
In light of recent increases in
energy prices, the NPC has written to the Chancellor urging him to raise
the winter fuel allowance in the forthcoming Budget. The allowance has
been frozen since 2003, despite tens of thousands of winter deaths and
rising bills. A doubling of the allowance would give confidence to older
people that they could put the heating on without fear of the cost.
POST OFFICES
The NPC is opposed to the latest proposals
to close 2500 local post offices and transfer services to WH Smith.
Concerns have been expressed to WH Smith and we are awaiting a reply.
Talks are also taking place with the Communication Workers Union
regarding a possible joint campaign.
FREE TRAVEL
The NPC has recently produced a briefing
paper on how the new Concessionary Bus Travel Act will be implemented in
April this year. Talks are also ongoing with the government on making
further improvements to the scheme by extending the concession to other
modes of public transport and for it to apply in other UK countries.
CONCESSIONARY COURSE FEES
The NPC has vigorously opposed the use of
the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations to remove concessionary fees
for pensioners taking adult education courses at local colleges. Talks
have also been held with the Minister responsible and the National
Institute for Adult Continuing Education. A case has also been raised
with the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
PUBLIC TOILETS
The NPC has written to the local government
minister, John Healey, to express the need for local authorities to have
a statutory obligation to provide sufficient numbers of public toilets.
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