CAMPAIGNING pensioners have voiced their concern to Humza Yousaf over the absence of a specific ministerial position to consider the rights and welfare of older people.
The Scottish Pensioners’ Forum (SPF), the campaigning organisation for older people in Scotland, have written to the First Minister to congratulate him on his appointment.
But they have also called into question the decision to drop the Minister for Equalities and Older People role, with its responsibilities now falling under the remit of the new Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees, SNP MSP Emma Roddick.
SPF chair, Rose Jackson said: "Over the past several years, the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum has worked closely with the Minister for Equalities and Older People through the Older People’s Strategic Action Forum (OPSAF) and, along with many other older people’s organisations, has made some significant headway in doing so.
"Representatives on OPSAF worked closely together when the pandemic hit and were confident that the stellar work carried out beforehand with the minister would be reinstated as a priority moving forward – but it appears to have just been largely ignored.
"What we are seeing now is that the ministerial responsibility for older people’s welfare is just another casualty of the pandemic they have to endure - as if they haven’t suffered enough.
"We have called on the First Minister to meet with us, and other older people’s organisations, to discuss our concerns and we hope that he treats this as a priority.
"Issues affecting older people are very specific and as we make up 20% of the population, being tagged onto an already stretched portfolio simply isn’t good enough.
"In 2019, the Fairer Scotland for Older People: A Framework for Action report formed part of the Programme for Government, which widely acknowledged the gross inequalities facing Scotland’s older citizens.
"If Scotland is serious about being a progressive nation, it can’t be seen to be regressing on its commitment to older people – what’s fair in that."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel