HC Deb 15 April 2002 vol 383 c695W
24. Tony Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to develop his Department's strategy to help older people. [45036]

Mr. McCartney

The Government is committed to improving the position of older people in our society. This is an issue that is relevant not only to my Department but also to others across Government.

The Government's strategy is co-ordinated by a Cabinet sub-committee of Ministers from several Departments, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The strategy consists of five main strands: encouraging and enabling active aging, promoting age diversity, tackling pensioner poverty for today's and future pensioners, maintaining and supporting independence in later life and working in partnership with older people to provide better services focused on the needs of individuals.

We will publish a report later this year that will show how the Government's strategy is helping to ensure that later life is a time of opportunity for older people.