Raising the pension age
In my Westminster Hall debate on 9th March, I warned that a
rise in the pension age risks bringing extra hardship for some of
the most vulnerable members of our society. Those with most to
lose are manual workers, as well as people from poorer backgrounds who suffer above average ill health and shorter lives.
It is also the case that a higher pension age will be one of the biggest boosts for inequality that Britain has seen for many decades. A rise in the pension age has not been debated properly in Parliament, and in current circumstances it is not justified.
Improved Cancer Services
Harry Cohen: I welcome the strategy on COPD, but let me return to cancer. The Secretary of State will be aware that the incidence of cancers is higher than average in parts of north-east London such as my constituency. That is the case for prostate and bowel cancers. What significant plans do the Government have to improve early detection, treatment and care for those who are most affected?
Andy Burnham: Waltham Forest was one of the early adopters of the Government's bowel cancer screening programme, ahead of national implementation. We take these matters incredibly seriously, and, as my hon. Friend will know, we have extended the bowel cancer screening programme to men and women aged between 70 and 75.
Ovarian Cancer Action Charity
I have signed the Commons motion supporting the Ovarian Cancer Action Charity and their campaign to raise awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms among women and healthcare professionals. They believe that every woman should know the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Please visit www.ovarian.org.uk to the symptoms of ovarian cancer and you will be encouraged to share the symptoms with the women in your life who you value.
Bill Presented
I have presented to Parliament my Department for Work and Pensions (Electronic File Retention) Bill. It very simply exempts the Department for Work and Pensions from current statutory requirements to retain files in written form if it holds the information on computer instead. I feel that this is my gift to whoever forms the next government as, if enacted, it would save taxpayers millions of pounds. My Parliamentary questions showed that in July 2007 the DWP stored 52.7 million files at a cost of £15.5 million, yet the next year it had risen to 58 million files stored costing £21.2 million. My Bill would cut this enormous, growing, cost right down.
Department for Work and Pensions (Electronic File Retention) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Harry Cohen presented a Bill to exempt the Department for Work and Pensions from statutory requirements to retain files in written form where it holds electronic files of the information in an approved form; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 5 March, and to be printed (Bill 6 6 ).
Faith Schools
Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab): Will my hon. Friend assure me that no faith school teacher will be allowed to spread long-term fear among children by telling them that if they subsequently have an abortion or partake in homosexuality they will end up going to hell?
Mr. Coaker: Of course I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. What we are trying to do is reassure faith schools that they will be able to teach PSHE in a way that is consistent with their religious characteristic and ethos. That is what the amendment does; that is the reassurance we seek to give. The amendment has to be read alongside the other parts of the clause, which describe certain principles that will also have to be upheld. We should pay tribute to the faith schools: for the first time they are saying that when PSHE becomes compulsory, not only will they need it to be consistent with their religious ethos, but they will accept that these other principles are also important. Read more...
