OLDER PEOPLES RIGHTS COMMISSIONER

Early day motion 1391, tabled 11 June 2003 by David Taylor (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 153 members.

That this House believes that the human rights of older people in the United Kingdom are too often overlooked or undervalued; condemns the neglect and financial abuse of vulnerable elderly people revealed by the BBC Television series 'Britain's Secret Shame'; recognises that the majority of such cases result from a lack of understanding rather than deliberate cruelty; welcomes the Help the Aged campaign to tackle such mistreatment of older people; notes the introduction on 17th June of a bill under the 10 minute rule by the honourable Member for North West Leicestershire to establish an Older Person's Rights Commissioner to promote and protect the human rights of older people; urges honourable and Right honourable Members to endorse this proposal; notes that domestic and European anti-discrimination legislation for goods and services does not make specific provision relating to age; and calls on the Government to correct that position as a matter of urgency as part of a comprehensive effort to end the injustice endured by older people on a regular basis.

Signatures by party: Labour 94, Liberal Democrat 23, Conservative 14, Labour/Co-operative 11, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Independent Conservative 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.