Reinstating a Minister for Older People

Generations Working Together, along with several other organisations, are urging the Scottish Government to restore the position of a designated Minister for Older People. In collaboration with 15 partner organizations, we have written an open letter to the First Minister, Humza Yousaf, requesting the reinstatement of this role.

Previously, there was a named Minister for Equalities and Older People within the Scottish Government, until March 2023.

We are disheartened and extremely disappointed that the prominence of older people’s issues and its position as a named responsibility have been downgraded within the new Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees’ portfolio. The list of policy areas covered here are larger and more diverse than ever before, which gives us cause for concern about the amount of necessary focus older people will receive.

We feel this is a backward step on the progress that has been made, and reduces the importance of older people’s issues at a time when Scotland’s population is ageing and facing a growing number of serious challenges.

Collectively, we have heard from many older people’s groups and individual older people who feel let down by this.

In order to demonstrate a serious commitment to improving the lives of older people in Scotland, we believe that a named ministerial title for older people should be reinstated.