AGE CONCERN'S THE PRICE OF NO ADVICE CAMPAIGN

That this House wishes to highlight the aims of Age Concern's campaign to increase older people's access to information and advice services; notes that such services can greatly improve older people's lives but are gaining less funding at a time when the need for the service is increasing; further notes with concern that 2.1 million pensioners continue to live in poverty yet £4.7 billion of income-related benefits and allowances are unclaimed; commends Age Concern for helping older people to receive over £100 million in unclaimed support in 2007-08; calls on the Government to place more responsibility on local authorities and primary care trusts to underpin information, advice and advocacy services to ensure older people are well-informed; and asks the Government to make reducing pensioner poverty a national performance indicator for local authorities.