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The government should be obliged to listen to the new commissioner for older people in Wales, charities have warned, writes Chloe Stothart.

The legislation to establish the office, which had its second reading in the House of Lords last week, does not set out a formal communication procedure between the commissioner and Westminster.

At present, the commissioner will have the power to investigate complaints and review how local authorities, the Welsh Assembly and the NHS carry out their duties towards older people.

The Welsh Assembly will be required to respond to the commissioner’s findings.

However, on issues that have not been devolved, such as pensions and benefits which are still controlled by Whitehall, the commissioner could only make comments to the Welsh Assembly which could then relay the message to the UK government. Whitehall would not be obliged to respond.

Sarah Stone, Age Concern Cymru’s head of public affairs said: “The government should at least make a publicly available response of some kind to what the Assembly says.”

Lord Livsey of Talgarth said: “Pensions, benefits and employment are not within the scope of the Assembly or the Welsh Assembly Government. These functions are crucial to the wellbeing of older people in Wales, yet the commissioner will have very little or no impact.”