25-03-04

Barrett calls for new commissioner to promote pensioner welfare

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today called for the establishment of a new Pensioners' Commissioner to ensure better standards of welfare of the country's senior citizens.

Mr Barrett is one of almost 50 MPs from the three main political parties who have backed a parliamentary motion supporting such an idea. 

The motion says the Commissioner should "implement and oversee a national strategy of promoting high standards of care and support in order to improve the welfare of our pensioners."

Commenting, John Barrett said:

"Whether it is the low state pension, the scrapping of pension books or the ever increasing drive towards means testing, pensioners are getting a raw deal from this UK Government.  On top of that, the unfair council tax, increasing at a greater rate than rises in pensions, is only adding to pensioner poverty.

"What we need is an independent commissioner who can act as the conscious of the Government over pensioner welfare in the same way as the Children's Commissioner will look after the interests of younger people.

"Such a person could take a leading role in promoting better standards of support for older people.  Besides, after a lifetime of contributing to the country, the 18,000 pensioners in my constituency and millions across the UK deserve nothing less."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• John Barrett has signed EDM 798 -

That this House notes the growing numbers of pensioners as a percentage of the population and, as a consequence, the growing number of people in need of care and support; recognises the importance of promoting pensioner welfare and tackling pensioner poverty in addition to maintaining high standards of care in nursing homes and care homes throughout the UK; further notes the report conducted by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service which estimates that 32 elderly people die alone each day, with one in 10 elderly people seeing nobody on an average day; and calls for the introduction of a pensioners commissioner to implement and oversee a national strategy for promoting high standards of care and support in order to improve the welfare of our pensioners.