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Cameron sees 'ageing UK' benefits Cameron sees 'ageing UK' benefits
(about 2 hours later)
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.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.
Mr Cameron, who will give a speech to Age Concern later, says that as 11m baby boomers became pensioners, British society would undergo a "big change". In a speech to Age Concern he said that as 11m baby boomers became pensioners, Britain would undergo a "big change".
"We have to make sure this is an opportunity, a benefit... rather than a cost," Mr Cameron told the BBC."We have to make sure this is an opportunity, a benefit... rather than a cost," Mr Cameron told the BBC.
He also brushed off a poll suggesting his approval rating had slipped. One in six British people is currently aged 65 or over, but that is expected to rise to one in four within 30 years.
One in six people is currently aged 65 or over, but it is predicted that within 30 years it will be more than one in four.
We have to change our approach and our attitude and our behaviour towards older people David CameronWe have to change our approach and our attitude and our behaviour towards older people David Cameron
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 - helping to offset the cost of additional care for an ageing population. He said over-50s who continue to work could boost the economy by as much as £30m - helping to offset the cost of additional care for an ageing population.
"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" But he said a cultural change was needed - particularly among employers, the NHS and local government - in the way society viewed and behaved towards older people.
Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether he would abolish the civil service retirement age of 60 years, he said: "I think we should look at these things and that's not a pledge I can make today." "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.
'No credibility' Mr Cameron told Age Concern he was not in favour of free long term care for the elderly in England and Wales - which is available in Scotland.
'Different messages'
Funding was currently geared towards residential care - but that was not the answer for everyone, he said, and he would rather help carers to look after the elderly at home.
"I think the partnership approach [between individuals and government] is the right approach to establishing a system where no-one is forced to sell their homes," he said.
Mr Cameron was also asked about an Ipsos Mori survey for the Financial Times, which suggested his approval rating had slipped - particularly among women voters.Mr Cameron was also asked about an Ipsos Mori survey for the Financial Times, which suggested his approval rating had slipped - particularly among women voters.
"If I reacted to every poll, I would be in a right old mess," he told the BBC, about the poll in which 2,014 were interviewed face-to-face between October 12 and 16.. "If I reacted to every poll, I would be in a right old mess," he told the BBC, about the poll in which 2,014 were interviewed face-to-face between October 12 and 16.
"Polls come and polls go, frankly," he said, adding it would be "very, very hard work" for the Tories to prove themselves worthy of people's trust. But he said it would be "very, very hard work" for the Tories to prove themselves worthy of people's trust.
Pensions Minister James Purnell said Labour had legislated to outlaw age discrimination at work and were committed to helping those who want to work for longer.Pensions Minister James Purnell said Labour had legislated to outlaw age discrimination at work and were committed to helping those who want to work for longer.
He said: "Just weeks ago, the Tories were trying to appeal to young people by saying the baby boomer generation had too much power and influence.He said: "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.""But this week David Cameron is making a speech to older people so he gives them a different message."
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.