Gareth Davies MS, Welsh Conservative Member for Vale of Clwyd, has won the support of the Welsh Parliament to introduce a new law which will secure the rights of older people. He is the first MS of the 6th Senedd to propose new legislation and during yesterday’s Plenary session, Members from across the political divide backed his bid to embed a rights-based approach in the development, planning and delivery of public services that affect older people in Wales.
Mr Davies’ proposals would place a duty on all public bodies to abide by the UN Principles for Older Persons when developing or delivering services to older people. He believes that should such a duty have been in place at the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic we would have seen fewer deaths in care homes.
Mr Davies’ proposed new law would;
a) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to have due regard for the United Nations Principles for Older Persons when making decisions that may impact upon older people in Wales;
b) extend the due regard duty to local authorities, local health boards and other Welsh public authorities;
c) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to promote knowledge and understanding of the UN Principles for Older Persons amongst older people and Welsh public authorities;
d) place a requirement for Welsh Ministers to consult the Older People’s Commissioner, older people and other relevant stakeholders before making or revising the older people’s rights scheme; and
e) place a duty on Welsh Ministers to issue guidance to Welsh public authorities.
Commenting after the debate, Mr Davies said;
“It’s a great honour – as one of the Parliament’s newest Members – to have brought forward the first proposal for legislation of the sixth Senedd and I’m delighted that all parties in the Senedd have backed my proposal for a rights-based approach to services for older people.
“The pandemic has highlighted what many of us already knew; the rights of older people have been ignored, but we cannot allow their needs to be neglected any longer.
“Over the next two decades, the number of people aged over 65 is set to grow by around 40 per cent and while our demographics are changing, our society is not adapting, meaning that the rights of older people are being sadly eroded.
“The proposed new law will ensure that public bodies providing services that affect older people have due regard the UN Principles for Older Persons. These principles are grouped together in five themes: independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment, and dignity - things that most of us take for granted.
“I hope this Bill will prove a step in the right direction and ensure that the rights of older persons are respected and protected.”
