The rights of older people

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Sep 2023 Closed: 3 Sep 2025 Parliament page
This inquiry considers key issues faced by older people from their own perspectives and those of expert witnesses, including discrimination lawyers and advocacy organisations. It examines whether there is enough focus on the issues and effective policies to tackle them. It looks at how well older people’s rights are protected … Read more
8 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
8 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 20 events
26 Jun
2025
Correspondence
16 May
2025
Report published
25 Mar
2025
Correspondence
19 Mar
2025
Correspondence
19 Mar
2025
Correspondence
19 Feb
2025
Report published
11 Dec
2024
Oral evidence
11 Dec
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
24 May
2024
Correspondence
15 May
2024
Correspondence
17 Apr
2024
Oral evidence
17 Apr
2024
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
11 Dec 2024
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Women and Equalities Committee
Caroline Abrahams CBE · Age UK Dr Carole Easton OBE · Centre for Better Ageing Joanna Elson CBE · Independent Age Rhian Bowen-Davies · Older People's Commissioner for Wales
17 Apr 2024
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Women and Equalities Committee
Alice Gould · Independent Press Standards Organisation Kate Biggs · Ofcom Malcolm Phillips · Committee of Advertising Practice
28 Feb 2024
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Women and Equalities Committee
Jonathan Boys · Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Natalie Hall · 55/Redefined Nicola Smith · TUC Professor Wendy Loretto · University of Edinburgh Business School
7 Feb 2024
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Women and Equalities Committee
Councillor Gillian Ford · Local Government Association Declan O'Dempsey · Cloisters Chambers Dr Alysia Blackham · Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne Dr Emilene Zitkus · Loughborough University Helen Dobson · Citizens Online John Kirkpatrick · Equality and Human Rights Commission
10 Jan 2024
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Women and Equalities Committee
Carole Easton OBE · Centre for Ageing Better Caroline Abrahams CBE · Age UK Heléna Herklots CBE · Older People's Commissioner for Wales Joanna Elson CBE · Independent Age
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report - The rights of older people HC 414 19 Feb 2025 13 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
2 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report - The rights of older p…
Require Ofcom to prioritise age diversity in broadcasting workforce EDI strategies and reports.
We welcome Ofcom’s prioritisation of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and its annual report on EDI in the broadcasting workforce. We note, however, that, despite glaring underrepresentation of older people in radio and television, this is not currently a priority … Read more
Government Response
Ofcom agrees with the need for robust analysis on a range of EDI characteristics, which they have been doing since 2017, including collecting age data from broadcasters. However, their legal duties in relation to equality of opportunity are limited to sex, race, and disability, so they collect other information voluntarily.
Government Equalities Office
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4 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report - The rights of older p…
Require government to ensure and promote social tariffs for older people, strengthening regulation.
Social broadband and mobile phone tariffs can allow eligible low-income households to make significant savings on their bills, yet few eligible older people are aware of them. The Government should work with groups representing older people and broadband and mobile … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation to work with partners to promote awareness of social tariffs, referencing its Digital Inclusion Action Plan. However, it currently has no plans to strengthen regulatory regimes for mandated social tariffs but will monitor the market.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 13 of 8 classified
Accepted 2
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 3
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 1
Total 8 recs + 5 conclusions
Correspondence 8 letters
26 Jun 2025 Correspondence from Secretary, Editors Code of Practice, re The rights of older people, dated 16.06.2025
Parliament page
25 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Chief Executive, Hacked Off, re, The rights of older people, dated March 2025
Parliament page
19 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Charlotte Dewar, Chief Executive, IPSO, re the rights of older people, dated 11 March 2025
Parliament page
19 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Jo Poots, Project Sponsor and Head of Complaints and Investigations, Advertising Standards Authority, re the rights of older people, dated 28 Feb 2025
Parliament page
24 May 2024 Correspondence to the Minister for Women and Equalities, relating to the rights of older people, dated 23 May
Parliament page
15 May 2024 Correspondence from Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and UN, relating to the rights of older people dated 8 May 2024
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17 Apr 2024 Correspondence to Lord Ahmad Minister of State (Middle East, N Africa, S Asia, UN and Commonwealth) Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, relating to the rights of older people, dated 17 April 2024
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28 Feb 2024 Correspondence from the Advertising Standards Authority, relating to the rights of older people, dated 12 February 2024
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