Following the Government statement on the Ombudsman’s investigation into the way that changes to the state pension age were communicated to women born in the 1950s, Peter Aldous calls on the Government to work with Parliament to quickly agree a mechanism for remedy and points out that failure to comply with the Ombudsman’s recommendations would be unprecedented and go against our system of democratic checks and balances.
On the publication of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report on women’s state pension age, Peter Aldous calls on the Government to respond quickly and put in place a mechanism, working with Parliament, to ensure that this injustice, which has gone on for many years, is remedied as quickly as possible.
Peter Aldous welcomes the Government’s consideration of the case to fill the funding gap in the stalled Lowestoft Tidal Barrier project which will protect property and unleash the provision of new homes and business opportunities and seeks assurance from the Secretary of State that he will leave no stone unturned in working across Government so that the project can restart.
Peter Aldous backs the Government’s plan to halve inflation, grow the economy and reduce debt but highlight the need for investment in skills and infrastructure and raises concerns about extending the sunset clause on the energy profits levy which could deter investment in important local growth industries such as offshore wind, and about the impact of the abolition of the furnished letting concession in areas where holiday lets do not distort the local property market but are vital to the local economy.
Peter Aldous makes interventions in a Westminster Hall debate to highlight the fact that is already accepted by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman that women were not properly advised and informed and to call on Parliament to make recommendations to Government when the ombudsman’s final report is published.
Peter Aldous flags up concerns that the current maths and English functional skills requirement is an obstacle to a wider range of employers taking on apprentices, and calls on the Government to consider embedding English and maths elements into the apprenticeships standards.
Peter Aldous highlights the challenges facing social care in places like Suffolk, where the population is increasingly elderly, and calls on the Government to commission a long-term workforce plan for adult social care equivalent to that for the NHS.
Peter Aldous leads a debate on Colleges Week to celebrate the great work that colleges do, highlight where Government policy and support are working and examine the areas where more work and attention are required so that colleges can realise their full potential for the benefit of the people and the communities they serve.
Peter Aldous questions the Government about improving access to public sector procurement processes for small and medium-sized businesses and, specifically, if the new online platform is on schedule for operation in October.