§ Baroness Howe of Idlicoteasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made to date in implementing the recommendations addressed to them by the Department of Trade and Industry Foresight Panel on the Ageing Population, which reported in December 2000. [HL1474]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe Foresight Ageing Population Panel reported in December 2000 and produced a series of recommendations directed to departments and other organisations within and outside government. The report was circulated and discussed with the relevant government departments. The conclusions in the report fed into the development of policy across the fields highlighted in the report—that is, helping businesses meet the age shift; planning for an ageing society; and new research directions.
Examples of specific actions include:
Impact on Business
Foresight worked through the Trade Association Forum (representing more than 200 trade 178WA associations) to highlight to businesses the importance of the impact of the age shift on their activities and markets and the potential of new and expanding markets made up of older people.
An Ageing Society
Foresight held a series of discussions with relevant departments on the implications of demographics on working patterns, which were taken into account in the development of policies on flexible working.
Research
The UK National Collaboration on Ageing Research was set up in response to the foresight work by four research councils to stimulate multidisciplinary research and to develop a new cross-council approach to ageing research. The Department of Health continues to fund the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing, referred to in The Age Shift report recommendations on new research directions. This will provide data necessary for exploring the relationships between health and functioning, social networks and economic position, as people plan for, move into and progress beyond retirement.