Clause 17
Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [Lords]
4:45 pm
Nick Ainger (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales; Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Labour)
The collaborative working would not be broad enough to include the national forum. It would be for the commissioner to work eitherwith other commissioners, such as the Children’s Commissioners for Wales, or with the ombudsman, but certainly not with the university of the third age, for example. Collaborative working would take place with public office holders, such as other properly constituted ombudsmen or commissioners, not a wide range of organisations, such as representative organisations, because there are formal arrangements. I hope that that answers the hon. Lady’s question.
When the Commission for Equality and Human Rights is fully set up, it is likely that the commissioner will enter into an arrangement with it under subsection (8), which would formally establish their working arrangements. The CEHR will have a role on age discrimination, particularly in employment, so it is right that the Commissioner for Older People in Wales should have a proper working arrangement with it. I hope that the hon. Lady is satisfied with that point.