Charity Chiefs and Academics tell Lords what Britain thinks about Age and Ageing

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The House of Lords Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change asked charity leaders and university professors crucial questions on British attitudes to older people, retirement and work in two evidence sessions on Tuesday 16 October.

At 10am, the Committee heard from:

Baroness Greengross, President/Chief Executive of the International Longevity Centre;
John Kennedy, Director of Care Services, Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust;
Professor Pat Thane, Research Professor, King’s College London and Fellow of the British Academy; and
Caroline Abrahams, Director of External Affairs, Age UK.

The Committee asked the witnesses about British attitudes to older people, ageing and an ageing society, including how the public’s attitudes to retirement and work are changing.

Following on, at 11.15am, the Committee spoke to:

Professor Sarah Harper, Professor of Gerontology and Director, Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, Oxford University;
Professor Philip Rees FRGS FBA CBE, Emeritus Professor, School of Geography, University of Leeds; and
Simon Ross, Chief Executive, Population Matters.

The Committee hoped to learn more about the demographic situation in Britain, and about the accuracy of the data that the Government use when planning for population change. Do we know how many children are likely to be born, what impact migration may have on demand for public services, and how long we are likely to live?

The evidence sessions took place from 10am on Tuesday 16 October in Committee Room 2A of the House of Lords.