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Alistair Darling appointed as champion for older people
The Prime Minister today appointed Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Social Security, as Cabinet-level champion for older people. Mr Darling will be driving forward Government policy on the over-50s in the wake of the latest report from the Government’s Performance and Innovation Unit that is published today.
The report, Winning the Generation Game, is about people over 50 and their employment. It highlights the way in which economic trends, prevailing attitudes and demographic changes are all contributing to a situation where increasing numbers of over-50s are being written off - by employers, by society and by themselves.
It concludes that action is needed in four areas:
* Changing the culture: to ensure that peoples’ value and potential are recognised as they age
* Helping and encouraging over-50s to keep working: by encouraging employers to create more flexible working arrangements, improve occupational health and promote lifelong learning.
* Helping and encouraging people who have left work to find new jobs: through the New Deal - particularly the New Deal 50plus - and ONE measures to provide financial incentives and job-search help for those over 50, including those who are sick or disabled
* Helping older people to contribute to their communities beyond paid work: by improving access to, motivation towards and availability of volunteering opportunities
The Government is already delivering on some of the report’s conclusions - including the New Deal for the over-50s. Others will clearly require detailed consultation. And others, such as the tax and benefits changes, will - like all other spending commitments - need to be considered as part of the Spending Review.
Welcoming the PIU report, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said:
“One of the most important tasks for twenty-first century Britain is to unlock the talents and potential of all our citizens. This report shows that we are currently wasting one of our greatest resources - the over 50s. The Government is determined to put this situation right and I have asked Alistair Darling to take this forward.
“We are already taking action on some of the proposals, including rolling out the New Deal 50plus across the country. We recognise that providing practical advice and financial support to help people help themselves back into work is a better investment than spending money keeping people unemployed or inactive.”
Welcoming his new role, Alistair Darling said:
“We are committed to building a Britain based on enterprise and fairness. And that means fairness for all - regardless of their age. Too many over-50s are written-off. The cost to society is substantial. The cost to individuals is immense. That’s a situation we are determined to put right.”
27th April 2000
Notes for editors:
* 2.8 million people aged between 50 and State Pension Age - one in three of those in this age group - are not in paid work
* Most have not left work voluntarily. Nearly half receive most of their income from state benefits
* 60 per cent live in households with no occupational pension income
* The fall in employment since 1979 has been estimated to cost £16 billion in lost GDP each year, with £3-5 billion a year lost through extra benefits and lost taxation
* On current trends, there could be an additional one million people between 50 and State Pension Age out of work by 2020
* The creation of the Performance and Innovation Unit was announced by the Prime Minister on 28 July 1998 as part of the changes following a review of the effectiveness of the centre of Government by Cabinet Secretary, Sir Richard Wilson. The PIU’s aim is to improve the capacity of Government to address strategic, cross-cutting issues and to promote innovation in the development and delivery of policy and in the delivery of the Government’s objectives.
* The Unit reports direct to the Prime Minister through Sir Richard Wilson
* Further information about the PIU can be found on its website
www.cabinet-office/gov.uk/innovation
Media enquiries:
Cabinet Office press office - 020 7270 0317
DSS press office - 020 7238 0757
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