Committee
Equal Opportunities Committee, 20 Mar 2007
20 Mar 2007 · S2 · Equal Opportunities Committee
Item of business
Age Strategy
We took a number of steps to ensure meaningful engagement. We wanted to ensure that the consultation was clear and accessible. We asked a small number of open questions and we commissioned work to target people over 50 in the black and ethnic minority communities. All those steps combined to give a genuinely impressive total of more than 1,300 responses, many of which came from individuals and small organisations.The consultation was supplemented by other evidence-gathering work. There was a telephone survey, and focus groups and seminars were organised by key external stakeholders, which also provided policy briefings. You will also be aware that we were advised by an external advisory group.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Agenda item 3 is the Scottish Executive's strategy for an aging population. The minister has stayed with us for this item—I invite her to make opening remark...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Scotland's changing demography is an undeniable fact. It is projected that, by 2031, the number of people aged over 50 will have risen by 28 per cent and tha...
The Convener:
Lab
Thank you, minister. I welcome Fiona Hird from the Scottish Executive's equality unit. Yvonne Strachan remains with us.During the development of the strategy...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
We took a number of steps to ensure meaningful engagement. We wanted to ensure that the consultation was clear and accessible. We asked a small number of ope...
The Convener:
Lab
In a sense, you have answered the question that I was going to ask next, about harder-to-reach people, but I am not sure that you answered my first question....
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I am confident that their views are reflected in the strategy. Later, I will give some detail on the forthcoming national forum on aging, which we will set u...
Fiona Hird (Scottish Executive Development Department):
The themes that arose from the consultation include the importance of links between the generations, the strongly expressed feeling that people should not be...
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
Does the minister think that it was remiss to have a consultation on elderly people without approaching the only elected member in the UK who represents olde...
The Convener:
Lab
I think that the question was asked of the previous Minister for Communities, but the minister can answer it if she feels able to do so.
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I cannot answer for previous ministers, but a member of the Scottish Pensioners Forum was involved in the advisory group. I am sure that Mr Swinburne made an...
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
The Scottish Pensioners Forum receives funding from the Government on the condition that the forum is not political. That is a one-sided approach if the Exec...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I do not agree with that.
The Convener:
Lab
It is clear that the Scottish Pensioners Forum was legitimately represented.
Marilyn Livingstone:
Lab
Do you agree that all elected members represent older people?
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
My answer to that is—
The Convener:
Lab
John, I am convening the meeting—
John Swinburne:
SSCUP
The member asked a question.
Marilyn Livingstone:
Lab
I asked the minister.
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I agree with Marilyn Livingstone's view. I hope that John Swinburne contributed to the consultation, just as any MSP was able to do.
Marlyn Glen:
Lab
What is the strategy's added value, given the other policy initiatives that aim to improve older people's lives?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
It is true to say that our document reflects the consensus view on our changing demography. A lot has been written about what is happening to our population ...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
The strategy sets out six priorities for strategic action. Why were they chosen?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
They were, in effect, chosen because they emerged quickly from our consultation. They were reinforced by the additional evidence-gathering process and were e...
Fiona Hird:
The priorities emerged as clear themes throughout and there was consensus about their importance.
Mr McGrigor:
Con
Under point 1 of the action plan, you say:"Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise will pilot Personal Enterprise Shows with specific emphas...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I cannot give you a huge amount of detail on them, but I can get specific information from Scottish Enterprise. The personal enterprise shows are intended to...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
The strategy contains a 47 point action plan to support the six strategic priorities. Over what timescale will the action plan be implemented?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Where possible, we have made a commitment on timing. For example, we said that we will hold a national stakeholder event at the end of 2007 and will make reg...
Mr McGrigor:
Con
The strategy and action plan is detailed and announces several new initiatives. What funding has the Scottish Executive put in place to implement the strateg...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
As you will know, there is on-going funding. Between 2003-04 and 2007-08, Scottish Executive funding for the 60-plus age group increased by 5 per cent per an...