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We must do more to help pensioners
THERE has been fevered speculation here at Westminster in recent weeks about the likely date of the General Election.
There was a flurry of excitement when Ladbrokes' suspended bets on a March 25 election. But nothing came of it.
Now that the date of the Budget has been fixed, May 6 is again the most likely date. But as far as I am concerned (and I know the same goes for many of my constituents) the sooner the better! This uncertainty does no-one any good and every week things get worse. You only had to look at the effect on the pound in the currency markets of suggestions in some polls that we could end up with a hung Parliament.
Within the last couple of weeks, I have led for the official Opposition twice in debates touching on pensioner poverty.
It is a grim truth that 2.5 million pensioners live in official poverty in our country and 64 per cent of pensioner households are dependent on state benefits for at least half of their income. Yet some 5.4 billion goes unclaimed in benefits by pensioners every year.
And Help the Aged has estimated that up to 50,000 elderly people die needlessly each winter because of their freezing homes. This is a total scandal.
I was particularly keen to support the Royal British Legion. They have campaigned to re-name council tax benefit to "council tax rebate". This would mean a lot more veterans and others would feel comfortable claiming their entitlement. Just a change of one word, but a way of putting a lot of extra cash into the pockets of needy pensioners.
There was cross-party support for this move, including personally from David Cameron; but several months on, the Government are dragging their feet. They blame the IT systems in local councils up and down the country. Well surely just changing a single word can't present such a challenge!
And last week, my private member's Bill had its Second Reading debate. I have had a huge response from all around the country, as well as support from organisations like the RSPCA.
Just to recap, my Bill would give older people the right to keep their pets with them when entering a care home or sheltered housing. At present, 38,000 much-loved pets a year have to be put down because the rules do not allow them. I think this is a tragedy. And there are huge benefits for older people in keeping their pets; mental and physical. A pet can be a great antidote to loneliness in old age.
Finally, a really great evening at the Farm in Friday Street recently. Loads of cash was raised for the fire-fighters who are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the charity Help for Heroes. A really impressive turnout and lots of support from the community. Paul and the team at the Farm really made us all welcome. And I was chuffed that my bottle of Commons whisky fetched more than 100 in the auction!
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
