The Scottish Parliament
On Thursday Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hosted a question and answer session with 300 of Scotland's older people in the Scottish Parliament.
Ms Sturgeon is reported as saying the event was a "one off but this could change if it proves to be successful and effective."
A consultative forum of older people's organisations was set up back on 2002 and was then chaired by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. Other than a first meeting on 12 February 2002 and notes of a meeting in June 2004, there has been little or no mention of this forum.
After yesterday surely this will change. Older people have a great deal to offer society and there must be an arena where their concerns can be heard and a facility for direct contact with our political representatives. There was a call at the meeting for a Seniors Parliament which is an excellent proposal.
Yesterday's event was formally opened by the Presiding Officer Alex Ferguson and included a panel discussion with Public Health Minister Shona Robison, president of the Irish Senior Citizen's Parliament Sylvia Meehan, the Welsh Older People's commissioner Ruth Marks and Labour Deputy leader Johan Lamont.
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10 comments:
For the New World Order we oldies are an inconvenient truth.
We are indeed OR and most just hope would slide into oblivion.
Problem is - they don't realise it's their turn next do they.
Subrosa; Oldrightie
With an ageing Scottish population we are now more than an inconvenience.
We are rapidly becoming a force which the politicians will ignore at their peril.
This is because of two simple facts – we have a voice and we have a vote – and we know how to use them both.
The problem is JRB we're not properly organised. I looked into the setup when researching for this post and it's all little groups under one umbrella group based in England.
Then of course that massive quango Age Concern which has its own agenda. I'm not in the least impressed with them the more I get to know them.
A Seniors Parliament would be a great idea then we would know exactly who to contact to speak for us.
subrosa,
Younger than spring-time are you,
Softer than starlight are you
etc etc etc!!
I shall sleep with a smile on my face now brownlie. Thank you xx
Rosa, the problems you allude to with 'Age Concern' are rampant right through the 'elderly forums'.
Look at the preponderance of 'young' development officers and managers in charge of administrating and funding such groups, then look at their political backgrounds and the political allegiance of their chairs etcetera.
When one party has a dominance of the grey vote, they will go to any length to retain it.
Monty, it's such a shame the wrinklies can't get themselves organised by having an independent party without the likes of Age Concern and their ilk involved.
Something along the lines of the SNP where there is one main policy which attracts those of all political persuasions.
I would contribute to something like that but I'm not tempted by the present setup. In the past few years I've seen what you say and it didn't impress me in the least.
Not so long ago I met a heid bummer from AC at a private party. When the conversation became too honest for her she made her excuses and was off like a shot. All I asked was what she did for her six figure salary (including average expenses right enough). I could see the anger in her face when she realised I'd done my homework.
Was good fun in fact. :)
I can't name names or location, but I've recently heard of a manager awarding themselves a £7,000 salary increase and threatening elderly folk with legal moves should they further complain about the situation...
That doesn't surprise me Monty. They're a powerful bunch.
How do genuine, apolitical seniors fight against the likes of that?
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