Gordon Lishman‚ Director-General‚ Age Concern
Mervyn Kohler‚ Head of Public Affairs‚ Help the Aged
Joe Harris‚ General Secretary‚ National Pensioners Convention

“The Government must put pensioners at the top of the agenda at this year's party conference. Radical reform of the pensions system is urgently needed to lift today’s two million pensioners out of poverty and prevent millions more from facing the same fate.

“We are calling for a commitment to end pensioner poverty and a clear timetable in which to achieve this. We want the Government to introduce reforms which gives women and carers a fair deal and helps those on a low and modest income to build up a decent retirement income.

“A broad public debate must now take place in order to achieve successful and long-lasting pensions reform. The future of our pensions system is too important to be decided simply by politicians and academics.”

Notes to editors

Age Concern‚ Help the Aged and the National Pensioners Convention are jointly hosting a reception on Monday September 26 at the conference in Brighton: - Age in the third term

Time:   8pm - 9.30pm
Venue:   Sandringham room‚ Hilton Metropole Hotel
Speaker:  Rt Hon David Blunkett MP‚ Work and Pensions Secretary
Supported by: Lloyds TSB and Scottish Widows

Media contacts

Age Concern
Helen Wanless
Telephone:
020 8765 7514
Out of hours:
07071 243 243

Help the Aged
Adrian Thomas
Telephone:
020 7239 1940
Out of hours:
07730 912 524

National Pensioners Convention
Neil Duncan- Jordan
Telephone:
07940 357 608