Speaking after the meeting, Carla Lockhart said:

“Nixon Armstrong has been a very effective and diligent Older People’s Advocate, and he is someone who I have known for some time through various campaigns we have worked on in the past.

It was good to meet up again with Nixon, and to discuss a range of issues affecting our older people, and other matters causing concern.

In recent weeks we have seen the Secretary of State promote the idea of changing the terms and conditions of free public transport for example. Such a move would be a retrograde step, and impact our older people negatively. Free transport is a great enabler, and not something that should be targeted by penny pinchers in the NIO who seem to have endless reserves of cash for pet projects whilst at the same time preying on benefits offered to our older people.

It is also vital that any threat to pensions is also ruled out and the the triple lock is maintained. In the cost of living crisis our older people are being hit hard, and we cannot see any attack on Government support for pensioners. The DUP is committed to maintaining this protection.

Finally, we also need the Government to progress legislation that prevents discrimination on grounds of age in relation to Goods, Facilities and Services. This would offer key protections to our older people, and reduce the abuses of older people in the provision of basic goods, facilities and services. We have waited too long to see this progressed, and I will be engaging with the Government on this matter, and indeed on pensions and free public transport, in the coming days.”