Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [HL]

The amendment would reduce the age threshold from 60 to 50. It would also hugely increase the potential workload for the commissioner, and might therefore reduce the effectiveness of his or her role. There are around 600,000 people over 60 in Wales, but if the age were to be dropped to 50, the commissioner’s remit would extend to over 1 million people. Undoubtedly, serious issues of disadvantage and discrimination affect some people as they move towards older age, from the age of 50. It is for that reason that the age threshold for the strategy for older people in Wales was set at 50. However, the strategy is intended to encapsulate the active citizenship agenda and the preparation of people for retirement and old age. The remit and powers of the commissioner are quite differently focused to act for the protection of those who receive services as older people in Wales. I assure Members of the Committee that a great deal of thought was given to defining the age threshold for this Bill. In the end the Assembly Government felt that ““aged 60 or over”” was the most pragmatic option, and we agree with that conclusion. Setting the age threshold at 60 reflects the age at which people can become entitled to receive winter fuel and pension credit benefits. We should also remember that, until 2013, 60 is the age at which women can receive a state pension; it is also the qualifying age for the free swimming and bus pass schemes, which operate in Wales. The noble Lord, Lord Livsey, wondered whether there was protection under a different Act. The short answer to that question is that we need this Bill and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, which will be centred in forthcoming legislation and will confer on people new rights of equality and opportunity in employment and related training. Our own Commission Advisory Group report suggests that the majority of older people of retirement age will not fall within this legislation because they will not be part of the workforce. The Strategy for Older People set the age limit at 50 for the reasons I have given. So there is a form of two-tier approach: the strategy embracing those aged over 50 and now the commissioner looking at those aged 60 and over. I hope that my answer satisfies both noble Lords and that the amendment will be withdrawn.