South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth is urging local people to have their say over his plans to bring forward a member’s bill in the Scottish Parliament to create a dedicated commissioner for older people in Scotland.

The consultation has reached its final week, with a closing date of Monday 23 October.

Under the proposal a dedicated commissioner in Scotland would be established to ensure the voices of people in later life are heard.

The Commissioner would have the power to hold public bodies to account and take up issues on behalf of older people including carrying out inquiries into the adequacy of services for older people.

The independent commissioner would also have a key role to tackle age discrimination and ageism across Scottish society.

At present children and young people have standalone commissioners in each of the four nations of the UK, including Scotland, while Wales and Northern Ireland have commissioners for the older people.

Colin Smyth plans to bring forward a bill early next year to create a similar post for Scotland.

Colin Smyth said: “Shamefully 1 in 6 pensioners in Scotland are living in poverty and that number is rising.

“As we feel the first frost of winter, more and more older people face the choice between heating and eating.

“Too many in later life aren’t having the retirement they deserve, whether that’s because of difficulties getting the right care or money worries and older people increasingly feel invisible and powerless.

“But there is an opportunity to help fix this.

“I’ve joined forces with dozens of charities across Scotland to bring forward a bill before the Scottish Parliament to establish an Older People’s Commissioner in Scotland.

“A Commissioner would be independent champion to raise awareness of the issues people face in later life and to bring together decision makers to make change happen.

“Crucially, they’d have an important role challenging the negative stereotypes of ageing and celebrating the immense positive contribution of older people, such as older workers and volunteers.

“We have Children’s in every nation of the UK and an Older People’s Commissioners in Wales and Northern Ireland with a big campaign for one in England. Why should older people in Scotland be any different?

“As our older population grows and becomes increasingly diverse, an independent champion can help us make Scotland the best place in the world to grow old.

Establishing a commissioner was a key manifesto commitment from the Scottish Labour party at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election and was contained in the Age Scotland’s Action for Older People manifesto ahead of the election.

Calls for a commissioner were recently backed by more than 30 organisations who have been invited to the launch, and Scottish entertainment legends Barbara Dickson, Gregor Fisher and Barbara Rafferty spoke last week about their support.

The role of the Commissioner would be:

• Raising awareness of the interests of older people in Scotland and of the need to safeguard those interests.
• Promoting the provision of opportunities for, and the elimination of discrimination against, older people in Scotland.
• Encouraging best practice in the treatment of older people in Scotland.
• Keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law affecting the interests of older people in Scotland.
• The Commissioner would also have the power to carry out investigations into how services provide for older people.

Colin Smyth has held a number of events and visits to promote the bill.