Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

The Government is committed to equality and opportunity for all. Ageism has no place in our society, which is why the Government is supporting inclusion, challenging stereotypes and enabling more people in later life to be happy, healthy and active. The Equality Act 2010 provides strong protection against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment, recruitment process and the provision of services. Age discrimination is generally prohibited, unless the differential treatment can be objectively justified.

The Government values the wealth of skills and experiences that people aged 50 and over bring both to the workplace and the economy. The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to supporting midlife workers through a wide-ranging strategy that promotes inclusion, flexibility and progression, helping to tackle age discrimination across public services and workplaces.

The Government also recognises that we have an ageing population living with multiple health conditions, and therefore we require more seamless services. We are committed to improving outcomes for older people through a range of cross-cutting strategies and initiatives. Addressing healthcare inequalities is a fundamental part of the 10 Year Health Plan, to ensure the NHS is there for anyone who needs it, whenever they need it. This includes how services can be better integrated and tailored to improve quality of life and reduce inequalities in later life.

We continue to monitor and support legislation to tackle age discrimination.

It is a longstanding convention of the House that questions that cast reflections on the Sovereign or the Royal Family are generally regarded as inadmissible. The Procedure and Privileges Committee currently has no plans to look at this matter.

The Government is clear that equality and opportunity for all are at the heart of our programme of national renewal. This includes actively considering the needs of older people and ensuring that they are not discriminated against. The Equality Act 2010 is the means by which age discrimination against older workers and job applicants is prohibited. Since the abolition of the default retirement age, employers can no longer use a person’s advancing years as automatic grounds for dismissal. Requiring a person to leave their job on age grounds is only lawful where the employer can objectively justify their decision. We are committed to retaining these strong protections.

There are currently 11 sensitivity reviewers (equivalent to 5 Full-Time Equivalent staff) within the Cabinet Office scrutinising historical records for transfer to The National Archives.

Because the workload is distributed across a team rather than relying on an individual, the absence of a single case officer would not lead to the indefinite suspension of statutory reviews. Work would be reassigned among the remaining team members to ensure legal obligations continue to be met.

The House of Lords established a dedicated select committee to look at how best to implement the Government’s manifesto commitments on a retirement age and participation requirement. The Government will carefully consider the select committee’s recommendations and looks forward to responding to its report which is due to be published before the end of July.

The Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies sets out the personal and professional standards expected from non-executive board members of UK public bodies, including the transparency arrangements that apply in relation to conflicts of interest.

Separately, as the Leader of the House of Lords set out in her statement to the House on 10 February, the government will look closely at our system for providing transparency around lobbying, and will continue to update the House on this matter.

The Equality Act 2010 already contains strong protections for older people against age discrimination in a variety of settings, including work and the provision of services. The Act prohibits both discrimination because of age and harassment related to age.

We welcome the recent Women and Equalities Select Committee inquiry into the rights of older people, which made a number of recommendations relating to ageism. The Government’s response to this inquiry sets out our commitments to ensure the right support systems are in place for older people, including on employment, health care and digital inclusion. Ofcom, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Independent Press Standards Organisation have also responded to the inquiry, with Ofcom providing reflections on the report’s recommendations on broadcasting.

In advertising, industry codes applied by the ASA prohibit adverts from causing serious or widespread offence, and outline that particular care must be taken to avoid causing offence on the grounds of protected characteristics, one of which is age.

All the creative industries have an important role in holding a mirror up to nature, exposing and understanding our common prejudices and challenging the stereotypes that hold us back socially and economically. The arm’s length principle wisely prevents government from lecturing the arts about how and when they should do this.

The government values the wealth of skills and experiences that people aged 50 and over bring both to the workplace and the economy. We are committed to supporting midlife workers who want to retrain or find work through a wide-ranging strategy that promotes inclusion, flexibility and progression.

For those aged 50 and over, and in receipt of benefits, we provide additional dedicated support in Jobcentres, including through our 50PLUS Champions, who ensure that the specific needs of this age group are recognised and met. This includes facilitating engagement with local employers, promoting age inclusive policies and supporting work coaches to deliver activity locally. We also offer the Midlife MOT, which helps individuals assess their health, skills and finances, and directs them to appropriate guidance to support their return to work. There is also a digital version available to everyone. We also work closely with local employers and partners to expand the opportunities, training and employment support available to jobseekers aged 50 and over. There is also a comprehensive menu of help for Jobcentre customers who wish to retrain or upskill. This includes Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) placements, Skills Bootcamps, employer-led mentoring circles, 50+ job fairs.

The National Careers Service provides skills and careers guidance available to all. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement will also launch in the 2026/27 academic year, providing funding to support individuals to learn, upskill and retrain throughout their working lives. It will be available to adults up to the age of 60, with those aged 60 or over, at the start of their course, eligible for partial funding.

As part of our wider plans to Get Britain Working, we are creating a Jobs and Careers Service, with an enhanced focus on skills and careers, available to all. Support will be more inclusive and better tailored to individual’s needs, including those aged 50 and over, to help them move back into good, meaningful work and progress in work.

Over the next five years we expect over 12 million pensioners are likely to see their State Pensions increase by thousands of pounds as a result of our commitment to the Triple Lock.

We are providing support for pensioners through our Warm Homes Plan which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.

The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further six months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.   An additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

The Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate on their electricity bill. This winter, we expect over three million households, including over one million pensioners, to benefit under the scheme.

We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.

Over the course of this Parliament we expect over 12 million pensioners are likely to see their new State Pensions increase by £1700 as a result of our commitment to the Triple Lock.

We are also providing support through our Warm Homes Plan which pensioners will benefit from. This will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.

The Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate on their electricity bill. This winter, we expect over three million households, including over one million pensioners, to benefit under the scheme.

The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further six months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.   An additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

With regards to the suggestion that Winter Fuel Payments are paid to pensioners according to their council tax band, this would not be possible as my Department does not hold data on people’s council tax banding. Additionally council tax band is not always an accurate reflection of someone’s income.

We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.

As noted previously, Promovise Limited is in compulsory liquidation and the appointed liquidator is responsible for administering the process in accordance with their statutory duties. Information on the progress of the liquidation, including reports on the liquidator’s investigations, is published via Companies House.

The Department’s position as a creditor requires it to engage with the liquidation process to ensure that any and all potential avenues for recovery are properly pursued.

While the liquidator has reported limited recoveries to date, it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of an ongoing statutory process or to make definitive statements about final recoveries while that process remains active. The Department will continue to engage with the liquidator and will be informed of any distributions to creditors in due course.

The Department awarded personal protective equipment contracts to SG Recruitment during the COVID‑19 pandemic, including a contract for protective coveralls. The protective coveralls supplied under this contract did not meet the required specifications and were rejected. The Department therefore holds a claim in respect of the contract.

SG Recruitment is now in liquidation. The Department has submitted its claim to the company’s liquidators and will continue to engage with the liquidation process. The liquidators will advise creditors of the outcome of their investigations, and any distributions to creditors, in due course. The liquidators’ final report will be published at Companies House at the conclusion of the liquidation.

The handling of the Department’s claim against SG Recruitment was examined by the Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner as part of his review into COVID-19 era commercial activity.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes annual data on the number of death registrations where sepsis was the underlying cause of death, and where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, in England and Wales, since 2001. ONS has not yet published the number of death registrations for sepsis for 2024.

The following table shows the number of deaths registered where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years:

Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation.

The Department of Health and Social Care is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with dementia, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.

As an example, the Department, via the NIHR, is investing nearly £50 million into the Dementia Trials Network, a coordinated network of trial sites across the United Kingdom, which will offer people with dementia the opportunity to take part in early phase clinical trials irrespective of where they live. This is complemented by the £20 million Dementia Trials Accelerator, designed to position the UK as the destination of choice for late phase clinical trials in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.

In partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, and Alzheimer Scotland, the NIHR also delivers Join Dementia Research, an online platform which enables the involvement of people with and without a dementia diagnosis, as well as carers, to take part in a range of important research, including studies evaluating potential treatments for dementia.

The Government’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, which is expected to have nearly £150 million of Government funding allocated to it, or aligned with it, aims to speed up the development of new treatments for dementia and neurodegenerative conditions by accelerating innovations in biomarkers, clinical trials, and implementation.

Our health system has struggled to support those with complex needs, including those with dementia. Under the 10-Year Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services. We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.

We recognise the importance of a timely diagnosis, and remain committed to increasing diagnosis rates and ensuring that people can access any licensed and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended treatment and/or support they need.

The Government is committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service in England to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.

NHS England is working with partner agencies to support and inform further research into other diagnostic modalities, including blood-based biomarker and digital tests, which may help improve identification and management of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Government’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme has already invested £13 million into a range of biomarker innovation projects, which include a broad range of biomarker technologies, ranging from an artificial intelligence tool designed to improve the accuracy of blood tests for dementia, to using retinal scans to detect early-onset dementia decades before symptoms. Some of these innovations could support improved diagnosis in the future, if validated for clinical use.

NHS England has established a dedicated national programme team which continues to actively monitor potentially promising new treatments in late-stage trials, and which is working to co-ordinate preparations for the potential roll out of new treatments. These plans include assessments of any additional diagnostic capacity or additional workforce that would be needed if new treatments are licensed in the United Kingdom and achieve a positive recommendation on NHS adoption by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Enhancing the skills of staff working in adult social care is also vital to ensuring that the care provided is of good quality, fair, personalised, and accessible.

Our health system has struggled to support those with complex needs, including those with dementia. Under the 10 Year Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.

We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.