Act to create Welsh older people’s commissioner

Legislation to establish a champion for older people in Wales received royal assent on Tuesday.

The Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act 2006 establishes a commissioner with general functions to uphold the interests of and tackle discrimination against older people in Wales.

The commissioner will be able to review the impact of Welsh assembly government, council or health board actions on older people, and examine public sector bodies’ complaints, advocacy and whistle-blowing procedures.

The Welsh assembly has been empowered to make regulations enabling the commissioner to represent or assist particular older people in complaints against public bodies.

Age Concern Cymru director Robert Taylor said: “We want the forthcoming commissioner to create an environment whereby older people themselves can have more influence over the way in which important public and private services are managed and delivered in Wales.”