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Older workers 'boost the economy' Cameron sees 'ageing UK' benefits
(about 1 hour later)
Britain's ageing population can be a boost, not a burden, to the economy, David Cameron is to say. An attitude change is needed to ensure Britain's ageing population is a boost not a burden to the economy, says Conservative leader David Cameron.
The Conservative leader, in a speech to Age Concern, will say over-50s who continue to work could boost the economy by as much as £30m. Mr Cameron, who will give a speech to Age Concern later, said that as 11m baby boomers become pensioners, British society is undergoing a "big change".
He will accuse Tony Blair of fuelling stereotypes of older people by saying Britain was a "young country". "We have to make sure this is an opportunity, a benefit...rather than a cost," he told the BBC.
But Labour said he changed his message to suit the audience, while they had outlawed age discrimination at work. Labour accused Mr Cameron of changing his message to suit his audience.
We talk about the school gate as a place where parents meet. In fact, often it's grandparents who take children to school David Cameron One in six people are currently aged 65 or over, but it is predicted that within 30 years it will be more than one in four.
In the speech in London, Mr Cameron will say: "If we managed to bring back into the labour force the million people over 50 who can work and want to work, they would contribute billions to the UK economy." We have to change our approach and our attitude and our behaviour towards older people in order to reap the benefits of an older society David Cameron
One in six people are aged 65 or over, but it is predicted that within 30 years it will be more than one in four. In a speech to Age Concern, Mr Cameron will say over-50s who continue to work could boost the economy by as much as £30m.
Mr Cameron will say most people are not ill for long periods before they die, and economic activities of older people could offset the cost of additional care. He told the BBC: "We are not getting it right at the moment".
"My argument is, we have to change our approach and our attitude and our behaviour towards older people in order to reap the benefits of an older and more mature society," he said.
He will tell Age Concern most people are not ill for long periods before they die, and economic activities of older people could offset the cost of additional care.
Life expectancy
Older people play a vital role, he will say - contributing an estimated £24bn a year already in unpaid work.Older people play a vital role, he will say - contributing an estimated £24bn a year already in unpaid work.
"We talk about the school gate as a place where parents meet. In fact, often it's grandparents who take children to school in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon." For Labour, pensions minister James Purnell said they had legislated to outlaw age discrimination at work and was committed to helping those who want to work for longer.
He has no credibility and no solution to the challenges facing our ageing society James Purnell Just weeks ago, the Tories were trying to appeal to young people by saying the baby boomer generation had too much power and influence James PurnellLabour minister
He will criticise Tony Blair's comments in the early stages of his premiership as adding to the stereotype of old people. He said Mr Cameron had no credibility and "just tells every audience what they want to hear".
"He even said that 'This is a young country'. It isn't. The fact is we are an old country - with our best years ahead of us. That's how I see Britain."
But Pensions Minister James Purnell said the Labour party had legislated to outlaw age discrimination at work and was committed to helping those who want to work for longer.
He said Mr Cameron "just tells every audience what they want to hear".
"Just weeks ago, the Tories were trying to appeal to young people by saying the baby boomer generation had too much power and influence."Just weeks ago, the Tories were trying to appeal to young people by saying the baby boomer generation had too much power and influence.
"But this week David Cameron is making a speech to older people so he gives them a different message," he said."But this week David Cameron is making a speech to older people so he gives them a different message," he said.
"He has no credibility and no solution to the challenges facing our ageing society." The government's life expectancy figures show that in 1981 a man aged 65 could expect to live, on average, for another 13 years. The government's life expectancy figures show that in 1981 a man aged 65 could expect to live, on average, for another 13 years.
But by 2004 that had risen by nearly four years to 16.7 years.But by 2004 that had risen by nearly four years to 16.7 years.