Lord Jamieson (Con)

My Lords, first, I declare my interest, having previously sat on the Government’s Older Person’s Housing Taskforce, so ably chaired by Julienne Meyer. We have an ageing population. This is great news, as we are all living longer—as I am sure a number of noble Lords will attest. However, it comes with some significant issues, such as the increasing cost of social care and how we ensure that everyone has the opportunity for an active and healthy later age and can be part of their communities. Housing is a key factor. Ensuring the availability of appropriate housing in the right places is crucial to enabling us all to retain independence and lead happy, active lives. While it may not be right for everyone, there is a huge shortfall of this type of housing. An ageing society makes this question unavoidable. It is not simply a matter of numbers on pensions or the strains on the NHS, although these are real and pressing. It is about how people live their lives and whether they can remain independent, safe and connected to their communities as their circumstances change. Too many older people find themselves in homes that are ill-suited to reduced mobility, and the result is avoidable hospital admissions, preventable accidents and unnecessary moves away from familiar surroundings. Many Members of the House have been involved in delivering this kind of housing, and we have seen personally—I can attest to it myself—the transformational impact it can have on older people and those with disabilities. I was almost in tears following one small development we did for a person with very severe disabilities who was stuck in a wheelchair and could not use his hands. He was able to open his front door for the first time in his life—in his 50s—through an IR-activated door that he could operate. It was transformational, and we need to think about these things. I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, for moving Amendment 139, in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Best, and for the noble Lord’s personal advocacy on this issue time and again in the House. Through Amendment 153, the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, has underlined that process matters as much as outcome. Notifying and involving disabled people in the development of spatial strategies ensures that the voices of those most affected by poor design are heard at the stage when change can actually make a difference. Taken together, these amendments call attention to an essential principle: housing is not just about shelter but about enabling people to live their lives fully, safely and with dignity. I look forward to hearing from Minister about how the Government will bring forward more housing for an ageing population and those with disabilities.