To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the voluntary sector about the availability of early retired people to volunteer in future years; and if she will make a statement. (101612)

Ministers have had no such recent discussions. However, there has been engagement at official level with representatives of the voluntary sector about the role of older people and volunteering.

The Department is currently preparing a strategy for defining our engagement with the voluntary and community sector and we are considering the role of volunteering as part of this.