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An update from our Parlimentary Advisors
Independent Age has published the first Older People’s Economic Wellbeing Index: Scotland 2024-25. You can access the link online here.
This is the first edition in an annual series of nationally representative polling designed to deliver further understanding of the financial wellbeing and lives of people in Scotland who are of State Pension age. The results are concerning, demonstrating the scale of the income, costs and housing pressures faced by older people living in financial hardship, and the actions they are taking when faced with squeezed finances.
- One in five (19%) older people in Scotland have a household income of under £15,000 a year.
- One in five (21%) older people in Scotland say the State Pension is enough to cover basic living expenses.
- Almost one in three (29%) older people in Scotland have skipped meals in the last 12 months.
Some groups are disproportionately impacted – with women, people with caring responsibilities, and people who live with a health condition more likely to have cut back on essentials, have a lower income or more difficulty affording housing costs.
The Index identifies many other issues that older people face, from feeling politically unrepresented, to dissatisfaction with the social security system, and living in homes which aren’t suitable for their needs.
Independent Age is calling for action from both the UK and Scottish Governments to tackle rising pensioner poverty. It’s time for the UK Government to ensure that reserved social security entitlements – the State Pension and Pension Credit – are set at an adequate level. In Scotland, the creation and implementation of a pensioner poverty strategy – using devolved powers to their maximum extent – to reduce poverty in later life is needed urgently.
The following written questions of interest have been answered:
Zöe Franklin (LD, Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to extend free bus passes for over 60s across England.
Simon Lightwood (Lab, Wakefield and Rothwell): The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
Local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations such as lowering the age of eligibility. Additional local concessions are provided and funded by local authorities from local resources. The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Surrey County Council has been allocated £12 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services for passengers can be used in whichever way they wish. This could include extending the discretionary concessions available in the local area.
James McMurdock (Ref, South Basildon and East Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered setting targets for the development of retirement housing within her new homes target.
James McMurdock (Ref, South Basildon and East Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support she is providing to local authorities to encourage the development of specialist retirement housing.
Matthew Pennycook (Lab, Greenwich and Woolwich): The government is committed to helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible. The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should assess the size, types and tenure of housing needed for different groups, including older people, and to reflect this in their planning policies. My Department has set out guidance for councils in preparing planning policies on housing for older and disabled people. This can be found on gov.uk here. The Affordable Homes Programme for 2021-26 includes delivery of specialist housing for older people. Councils which are registered providers can also bid into the programme, alongside private registered providers.
At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. The investment made at Spring statement follows the £800 million in new in-year funding which has been made available for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme and that will support the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half of them being Social Rent homes. We will set out set details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent. The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce and are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market. We will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy.
