The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has called for a cross-departmental Government strategy to address the implications of the UK’s ageing population. The Committee warned that failing to implement such a plan risks a missed opportunity to respond to the demographic and societal shifts already underway.
The warning follows the Government’s official response to WEC’s Rights of Older People report.
In England and Wales, there are now 11 million people aged 65 or older, including more than half a million aged over 90. Projections indicate the over-65 population will increase by five million in the next two decades, including a rise of one million in those aged 85 and above. Despite these trends, the WEC report found no dedicated focus on ageing or demographic change within the current UK equalities framework.
The Committee had recommended that the Cabinet Office create a specialised unit within the Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO), consisting of data and policy analysts to address challenges facing older people across departments. This included attention to intersectional factors affecting experiences of ageing. In its response, the Government stated it is already taking a cross-government approach and highlighted the existing role of analysts in OEO who examine intersections, including those involving age.
Calls for Stronger Protections Against Age Discrimination
WEC’s report also proposed enhanced legal protections to combat what it described as widespread and culturally embedded ageism. It urged the Government to evaluate the model in Wales, where a Commissioner for Older People works alongside local authority champions to implement a national strategy. The Committee suggested England could benefit from a similar structure.
In response, the Government said the Equality Act 2010 already provides a strong legal framework to protect older people from discrimination and cited provisions allowing age-specific benefits, such as discounted services. However, it acknowledged the Welsh model and committed to considering its effectiveness. It added that any future action in England, including appointing local or regional Older People’s Champions, would be informed by available evidence and conducted in coordination with the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The WEC also highlighted digital exclusion as a key issue, especially among older people. It called for a new digital inclusion strategy tailored to the needs of older users, with plans for locally delivered skills training and a commitment to maintain offline alternatives.
In reply, the Government referenced its recent Digital Inclusion Action Plan. It noted that digital exclusion creates and deepens inequalities, particularly among older people, and confirmed this group is one of five priority audiences for targeted support. The plan includes initiatives to boost digital skills and confidence, expand access to devices and internet connectivity and deliver support through community channels.
Older Workers and Demographic Trends Demand Policy Focus
Committee Chair and Labour MP Sarah Owen said the lack of a strategic approach to demographic change and ageing risks overlooking the significant challenges and opportunities posed by the UK’s shifting age profile. She welcomed the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan but stressed the need for a broader and more comprehensive response.
She said: “While the Digital Inclusion Action Plan published in the weeks after WEC’s report is welcome, a comprehensive review of age discrimination law is a necessary step in tackling the UK’s pervasively ageist culture. The Committee’s report showed clearly that age discrimination is widespread in the UK and that older people struggle to enforce their rights.”
Owen added that the UK Government should give older people a stronger voice in policymaking. She pointed to Wales as an example, where dedicated infrastructure exists to support older residents. “Ultimately much more must be done to address the UK’s demographic challenge,” she concluded.
