MULHOLLAND ASKS MINISTER; WHY IS MORE NOT BEING DONE TO HELP OLDER PEOPLE WORK?

3.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th May 2009

Greg Mulholland, Leeds North West MP and member of the Select Committee for Work & Pensions today quizzed Minister Rosie Winterton MP about pensioners poverty and the role work has in dealing with this.

Greg asked if enough was being done to assist older people who want to work to do so. He pressed the Minister over the issue of the Statutory Retirement Age, which many older people and groups feel is age discrimination and expressed disappointment that despite the recession the Government is sticking to its timetable of of a 5 year review.

Greg commented;

"The Minister didn't seen to realise how crucial work is or could be to many older people struggling in the recession.

Pensioner poverty remains a real concern in this country and the Government and Jobcentre Plus need to do more to enable those older people who want to work to be able to do so. As things stand, not enough help and advice is given and the statutory retirement age means companies can get rid of older workers to cut costs. It is time the Government addressed this."