HL Deb 21 February 1994 vol 552 cc417-9

2.45 p.m.

Lord Stallard asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to ensure that the aims and objectives of the European Year of Older People are taken forward beyond the end of 1993.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)

My Lords, we endorse the aims and objectives of the 1993 European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations, and will continue to pursue policies designed to promote the health and well-being of older people and to encourage their full participation in society.

Lord Stallard

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for that reply. Perhaps I may take the matter a little further along the line. In a very busy year a whole number of very important developments ensued. Is she aware that one was the co-operation between the voluntary organisations and statutory bodies in this country and another was the co-operation between the voluntary organisations and the appropriate bodies in Europe? That provided a useful exchange of information and good practice. Is she further aware that the co-operation between government departments to make changes as regards the relevant issues was something which we all welcomed? What can she do to further at least those three objectives in the forthcoming years.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, the noble Lord is right. It was a remarkable year in its range and breadth of activities. We are keen not to lose that impetus, and we are giving positive consideration to a small unit to take the work forward.

Baroness Seear

My Lords, does the noble Baroness agree that one of the most useful things that could be done for older people is to revive the Bill put through this House by the late Lady Phillips which prohibited the requirement of ages to be given on application forms, thus giving opportunities for older people— after all, your Lordships' House has a vested interest in the situation of older people— to obtain employment for which they are eminently suited in many cases but from which they are excluded because of prejudices regarding the employment of people above, in the view of many of us, an extremely young age?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I agree with the noble Baroness. I believe that everyone in your Lordships' House is gainfully and usefully employed. The proposal put forward by the noble Baroness is something for individual organisations and employers to decide for themselves.

Baroness Seear

My Lords, does the noble Baroness agree that she meant "usefully" but not "gainfully"?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I stand corrected. I think that there is more use than gain.

Lord Elton

My Lords, can my noble friend enlighten us as to how much older these people are? Do I understand from her last reply that all of us qualify for these benefits?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I fear that I am getting into very deep water. Perhaps I may just say that those of us who have not reached retirement age do find your Lordships' House a very pleasant place in which to work.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

My Lords, pursuing that theme, can the noble Baroness confirm that the specific theme of health promotion for elderly people will be continued in the coming years? Have any specific gains in health yet been produced by the European Year of Older People?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, the year is being evaluated both European-wide and nationally. We shall be learning from those lessons. The noble Baroness is right in that many of our health promotion policies are geared to elderly people, particularly those which try to prevent cancer and other illnesses.