Bridgnorth Pages September 2015

Bridgnorth Pages

SEPTEMBER 2015

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Useful Numbers

Bridgnorth Medical Practice: 01746 767121 St Leonards House Dental Practice: 01746 763245 Regency House Dental Practice: 01746 766114 Bridgnorth Library: 01746 763358 St Mary Magdelene Church: 01746 761573 St Leonards Hall Church: 01746 767660 St James Hall Church: 01746 767174 St John the Evangalist RC Church: 01746 762348 Cartway United Reformed & Methodist Church: 01746 762315 Bridgnorth Baptist Church: 01746 768129 The People's Hall Church: 01746 763846 Bridgnorth Police Station: 0300 333 3000 MP: Philip Dunne: 01584 872187 Bridgnorth Town Council: 01746 762231 Shropshire County Council: 0345 678 9000 Parish Council Office: 01902 896300

If there are any other telephone numbers you think would be useful to the people of Bridgnorth then please contact us on bridgnorthpages@gmail.com

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Letter from Westminster – An ageing population

Earlier this summer I attended a fascinating series of brief lectures organised by my constituent, the current High Sheriff of Shropshire. The topic was the consequences of an ageing population. The Office for National Statistics reports that over the past 40 years, the median age of the UK population (the age at which half the population is younger and half older) has increased from 33.9 to 40 years old – a six year increase. At present, there are roughly 3.5 people of working age for every retired person. But by 2034, current predictions indicate there will be two working people for every retiree.

This growth in the number of older people is fuelled by increased longevity. Thanks to dramatic advances in medicine, average life expectancies in the past half century have soared. In 1951, a man aged 65 could expect on average to live to the age of 77. Today, he can expect to live to 86, and by 2050 to 91. Even in the last ten years, greater longevity’s effect on our population is clear to see.

When first elected MP in 2005, the most recent census data showed that about 17% of people living here were over 65 years old. Today, this figure is over 25%. There has also been a 40% increase in the number of people aged over 85 in the Ludlow Constituency.

But putting aside the fact we are enjoying longer lives, an ageing presents difficult challenges for policy makers, which must be addressed in coming years. Healthcare and welfare models are built on systems where today’s population profile was not contemplated. There is cross-party recognition that we need to remodel these services to ensure their long term viability. This includes raising the state pension age, and equalising state pension ages for men and women. But there is also a need to allow older people to continue to make a valued contribution to society. Retirement should be an increasingly active phase of life, where people have opportunities to continue working and volunteering, as well as saving and looking after their health.

To that end, we have abolished the default retirement age, so employers can no longer force employees to retire just because they reach 65. Older people have a wealth of skills and experience, which these changes should unlock. One of the speakers at the lecture series was Baroness Warnock, now in her early nineties, who used the occasion to launch her campaign for Teach Last, a programme to encourage older people to use their experience to teach the young. Teaching skills like modern languages, engineering, music and science could give children the chance to learn from retirees with a lifetime of real experience. This is an excellent initiative and could provide a pool of full or part-time talent to supplement teachers in our schools.

The impact of an ageing society has widespread ramifications for much of how we plan and lead our lives. But one thing is certain, we must ensure that the retirees of today and tomorrow have more opportunities to contribute fully to life in Shropshire.

Contact Phillip Dunne on this or any other matters on 01584 872187 or philip.dunne.mp@parliament.uk www.bridgnorthpages.co.uk ♦ bridgnorthpages@gmail.com ♦ 07734 461934

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