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For immediate release

 

Wednesday November 26 2003

 

AGE CONCERNS RESPONSE TOTHE QUEENS SPEECH

 

Age Concerns Director-General Gordon Lishmansaid:

 

Pensions Bill

Legislation toprotect workers who lose their pensions because of company insolvency willimprove the system for tomorrows pensioners. But many people are alreadysuffering through no fault of their own and the Government must investigate howthey should be compensated.

 

Proposals in theBill only amount to minor surgery of occupational pensions when we really needthe Government to perform a major operation on the whole system. To reallyimprove the health of our pensions, the Government must examine the biggerpicture, turn its back on means-testing and increase the basic state pension toat least 100 a week.

 

Mental IncapacityBill

The absence of this long-overdue Bill is a devastating blowto thousands, even millions of people, who cannot make decisions for themselvesbecause of illness, injury or disability.

 

Vulnerable people remain unprotected, despite 14 years ofcampaigning and 6 years of consultation. They are left without the prospect ofa legal framework in England and Wales. So their views and preferences could beignored by people making decisions about their personal welfare.

 

We urge the Government to reconsider its decision and makea commitment to introducing this Bill in this Parliamentary session to benefitsome of societys most defenceless people.

 

Ends

 

Notes to Editors

 

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