Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
3rd Report - The rights of older people
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 414
Published 19 February 2025
Government response
3rd Special Report - The rights of older people: Responses from Government, Advertising Standards Authority, Ofcom and IPSO · published 16 May 2025
Recommendations & Conclusions
1
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Require Ofcom and ASA to introduce specific rules against ageist stereotyping in media.
Recommendation
There is clear evidence that ageist stereotyping, including portrayals of older people as frail, helpless or incompetent, or conversely as wealth- hoarding “boomers”, is highly prevalent across all media in the UK and that this is a significant contributory factor …
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Government Response Summary
The government repeats the committee's conclusion regarding ageist stereotyping in media and its negative impact.
Government Equalities Office
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5
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Government’s outdated Digital Inclusion Strategy fails to address older people’s digital exclusion.
Conclusion
Older age is not in itself a cause of digital exclusion but strongly correlates with some of the key measures, including lack of broadband at home and non-ownership of a smartphone. There is also a large number of “hidden” digitally …
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Government Response Summary
The government repeats the committee's conclusion regarding digital exclusion among older people.
Government Equalities Office
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9
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Government lacks a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges of an ageing population.
Conclusion
Our growing ageing population presents a range of significant cross- departmental challenges and opportunities, and there is a huge breadth of issues facing an increasingly diverse older population. The lack of a strategy within Government on how to respond to …
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Government Response Summary
The government repeats the committee's conclusion that our growing aging population presents significant cross-departmental challenges and opportunities and that the lack of strategy is concerning.
Government Equalities Office
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10
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Developing a Government strategy for ageing and older people's rights is a crucial first step.
Conclusion
Evidence to us and our predecessor Committee emphasised the importance of joined-up and strategic work to tackle ageist attitudes and discrimination across society, including in access to healthcare, local services, banking and transport. While there is a very strong prima …
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Government Response Summary
The government repeats the committee's conclusion that our growing aging population presents significant cross-departmental challenges and opportunities and that the lack of strategy is concerning.
Government Equalities Office
View Details →