'NICE' DECISION ON ALZHEIMER'S DRUGS LUDICROUS

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 20th Nov 2006

Paul Holmes MP led the protest about NICE’s decision not to licence donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine for the treatment of the early and late stages of Alzheimer’s disease through Chesterfield town centre on Friday 17th November.

Paul Holmes MP for Chesterfield has today slammed the Government for yet another disgraceful attempt to deny thousands of people occupational pension compensation that could lift them out of poverty. In a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Paul Holmes has called upon for the Minister to urgently reconsider the Government's action.

Paul Holmes MP said:"The Government is guilty of appalling mismanagement of the occupational pension crisis that will plunge thousands into poverty at retirement.

"Following the Government's deplorable rejection of the Ombudsman's ruling that it was guilty of maladministration, Amicus and Community have now taken a legal case to the European Court of Justice. I condemn the Government's disgraceful attempt to restrict those who may be compensated for loss of their pension by limiting any payment to only those who have lodged an appeal by 13 July.

"The shamefully insufficient Pensions Protection Fund only safeguarded pensions lost after 1 April 2005 and the Financial Assistance Scheme that followed has so far only paid compensation to 27 people. The Government is guilty of turning its back on those, such as employees at Dema Glass, Coalite and Chesterfield Cylinders, who have worked hard to save for security in their retirement.

"The Government must urgently reconsider their action and fulfil their responsibility to compensate the victims of this gross pensions theft."