UK: Ageing Population

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Filkin

Tuesday 19th March 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Filkin]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish their assessment of the implications of the ageing of the United Kingdom’s population and their response to those implications; and, if so, when.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe)]

We welcome the committee’s report on the ageing population that was published last week. We will consider its recommendations carefully and respond in due course. Effective reform of public services is critical if we are to meet the needs of an ageing population and ensure long-term sustainability. We have put in place an ambitious programme of reform across a wide range of government policy areas, including pensions, health, social care, housing and employment.

[Lord Filkin]

I thank the Minister for his reply. As the House may know, the committee found that our society and Government were woefully underprepared for this major social change. To focus the supplementary question on health, out of courtesy to my colleague, the report found a massive increase in demand and cost driven by the increase in long-term conditions. In the committee’s view, this posed perhaps the biggest challenge the NHS has ever had to face. Will the Secretary of State set out his assessment of these challenges and what he proposes to do about them?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, we know that to adapt and respond to future need, the health and care system needs to change. The conclusions of the noble Lord’s report correlated in many ways with our own analysis in this respect. The challenges that the report sets out create an opportunity for the NHS and local authorities to innovate and explore new ways of working together to meet the needs of their local populations better and to optimise the use of resources, which is of course critical. We think the NHS and local authorities are best placed to understand the opportunities that exist in their areas, and we are committed to supporting them in that regard.