SOCIAL security minister Jeff Rooker was quizzed for more than an hour on issues facing pensioners yesterday.

Around 30 pensioners attended the public meeting at Fairfield Street Community Centre, Accrington, and asked questions on subjects ranging from pensions to television licences and bus passes.

Accompanied by Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, Mr Rooker spoke about government initiatives for the elderly. The minister admitted there was a problem of communicating to pensioners what benefits were available to them. Around half-a-million pensioners were not getting all their benefits. He said that in the summer the government would launch a campaign to advertise pensioners' entitlements.