Equal Opportunities Committee, 13 Dec 2005

Meeting date: Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Official Report 333KB pdf

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Age

Item 3 is the taking stock exercise on age. Do members have any comments on the approach paper that has been circulated?

I thank Zoé Tough, who is one of the committee clerks, for working with me on the paper. It covers all the areas on which we need to take stock. I know that John Swinburne has some questions, but we should remember that we are dealing not only with older or elderly people but with how age affects the employment and lives of people of all ages. I am happy to take any questions.

On page 9 of the excellent Scottish Parliament information centre briefing paper, there is a statement that epitomises the misplaced approach of all Governments, past and present. The section on poverty gives the impression that there is no serious problem because

"Pensioners are now no more likely to be living in … poverty than non-pensioners."

We live in the fourth-richest economy in the world and if anyone is living in poverty in our society, we should be thoroughly ashamed of the fact. We are not in the middle ages; this is the 21st century and, just because there are others in society who are as poor as pensioners, it does not mean that poverty for pensioners is acceptable. No one should be living in poverty in the 21st century.

The paper highlights some recommendations on how we proceed with the work, including recommending that we make a call for general evidence and that a reporter make visits. That all provides the committee with an opportunity to consider in more detail the issues surrounding age.

It is important to pick up Sandra White's point that the paper is not solely about older people; young people might have something particular to contribute. For instance, yesterday, the young people at a local school that I visited raised the issue of curfews and expressed their feeling that it was an unfair approach to antisocial behaviour. Under our call for evidence, could we write to Scotland's commissioner for children and young people and young people's organisations such as the Scottish Youth Parliament?

Yes, we will ensure that that happens. Likewise, if members feel that other organisations should be asked to give evidence, they should flag those up.

Malcolm Chisholm is chairing a group that is relevant to the topic, but it consists of bodies that are funded by the Executive. How can we get a fair and impartial viewpoint from groups whose existence depends on Executive funding?

That is an Executive exercise, but we have an opportunity for a committee of the Parliament to take stock on age. It is our opportunity to ensure that those who give us evidence are independent, and we look forward to involving a broad spectrum of witnesses. Earlier, we asked about key stakeholders; the issue is how we get to them.

I agree with John Swinburne's comments, but I am looking forward to taking evidence. Those in the older generation and others whom I meet as convener of the cross-party group on older people, age and aging are not shy about coming forward on issues that concern them and I am sure that we will get an independent view from such people. Regardless of whether the minister has set up an advisory group, the committee will be brave enough to question anything that the Executive says. I know that the committee will do that, as I have seen it happen before.

The exercise will be good. We all look forward to it. We will ask some honest and eye-opening questions and, I hope, get some answers to them as well. If John Swinburne wants to raise anything with me in the committee or privately, I am more than happy to meet him.

Are committee members content with the approach that is recommended in the paper?

Members indicated agreement.

Are committee members happy with the timescale that is proposed in the paper?

Members indicated agreement.

That is grand. We will now take a 10-minute break to prepare for our next evidence-taking session.

Meeting suspended.

On resuming—