Government disappoints in its response to key WEC report on Rights of Older People

Updated: May 17

The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) believes the government has missed a unique opportunity to tackle ageism in England in its response* to an important Women and Equalities Committee report.

The NPC does welcome the Government’s willingness to consider the successful Welsh model of a Commissioner for Older People, when considering whether to establish a similar role in England.

But while Ministers have said they will evaluate the effectiveness of the Welsh Commissioner in their reply to WEC’s report on the Rights of Older People, they have not committed to establishing a Commissioner in England. Nor have they agreed to implement a national strategy for our rapidly ageing population, supported by local champions.

The NPC warns that this non-committal response fails to reflect the urgency of the issues older people face in England.

Government disappoints in its response to key WEC report on Rights of Older People

But we welcome move to look at Wales Commissioner model

Jan Shortt, NPC General Secretary, said: “We welcome the Government’s openness to looking at what has been achieved in Wales, where a dedicated Commissioner has made a real difference in defending the rights and welfare of older people.

But the evidence already exists that the need in England is great and urgent. What older people require is not more delay, but decisive action. A Commissioner for Older People in England, backed by a network of local champions, would provide the national leadership and accountability that is currently missing. The time to act is now.”

“The Women and Equalities Committee recommended that the Government make progress on establishing a new framework for promoting and protecting older people’s rights by the end of the year. The NPC urges the Government to move beyond consideration to concrete commitment, beginning with a public consultation and clear timeline for action. Older people in England continue to face major challenges — including poverty, social care gaps, age discrimination, and digital exclusion — without a strong, independent advocate to represent their interests at national level.”

The NPC welcomed this spring’s report by the cross-party Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) which recommended the government appoint an English Commissioner, similar to what they have in Wales and Northern Ireland. So, we echo the reaction today from WEC Chair Sarah Owen MP who said: “The lack of a cross-departmental Government strategy on demographic change and ageing represents a significant missed opportunity, as the UK’s growing and increasingly diverse ageing population presents significant challenges and opportunities.” (https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/328/women-and-equalities-committee/news/206872/ageing-population-needs-new-government-strategy-wec-warns/#:~:text=16%20May%202025,and%20in%20the%20coming%20decades.)

It is just over two years since NPC and our COPA campaign partners Independent Age, Ageing Better, and Age UK launched our joint campaign to establish a COPA role for older people in England, as they have in Wales and Northern Ireland. We will now be consulting with our partners on the government’s response to the WEC report.

*Government response: The rights of older people: Responses from Government, Advertising Standards Authority, Ofcom and IPSO )

ENDS

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