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Elderly and Vulnerable People: Loneliness and Isolation — [Mr Virendra Sharma in the Chair]
06 December 2023
Lead MP
Derek Thomas
St Ives
Con
Responding Minister
Stuart Andrew
Tags
NHSForeign AffairsMental HealthChildren & Families
Word Count: 13693
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Derek Thomas raised concerns about elderly and vulnerable people: loneliness and isolation — [mr virendra sharma in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I ask the Government to ensure that all public services remain accessible offline, especially for those who cannot navigate digital platforms easily. I urge the Department for Transport to protect DVLA services at post offices after the current contract expires in March next year and support a proactive approach to ensuring no community is left without essential banking services.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I am concerned about the impact of modern society on vulnerable people, particularly elderly individuals who are left behind due to a lack of access to digital services. Over 1 million elderly people feel lonely over the festive season according to Age UK, and loneliness contributes significantly to early death, similar to obesity and smoking. The British Red Cross has called for a dedicated Minister for Loneliness and a national strategy overseen by the Prime Minister to address this issue across all ages.
James Berry
Con
Harrow East
He supported the debate, noting that loneliness can contribute to early death on par with obesity and smoking. He highlighted the importance of community-led initiatives such as bus schemes in his constituency.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
He raised concerns about the Bank of Scotland removing all mobile banks from his constituency, affecting elderly and vulnerable individuals experiencing loneliness. He pledged to repeatedly raise this issue in Parliament. Mr Stone highlighted the closure of mobile bank services in north Scotland and discussed the challenges faced by young carers in remote areas. He emphasised the role of TYKES Young Carers organisation in providing support to these young individuals who take care of their families while facing significant personal challenges, such as a 10-year-old girl looking after her disabled mother and siblings.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon highlighted the issue of loneliness in rural areas, mentioning the importance of community hubs and men's sheds. He discussed the impact of technological changes on elderly populations and advocated for better access to services and support systems.
Kim Leadbeater
Lab
Spen Valley
She thanked her hon. Friend for securing the debate and highlighted the cross-party work done on loneliness, particularly through the Jo Cox Commission which resulted in a Minister for Loneliness and a cross-Government strategy. She urged all MPs to attend the Tackling Loneliness Together festive fair. Ms Leadbeater thanked Mr Stone for his kind words about the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness and paid tribute to volunteers and organisations that help individuals during festive periods, noting that January and February can be particularly isolating months.
Lilian Greenwood
Lab
Nottingham South
Ms Greenwood highlighted the rise in chronic loneliness, especially among older people and disabled individuals. She noted that factors such as poverty, long-term illness, disability, discrimination, unemployment, inadequate housing, and living in deprived areas increase the likelihood of experiencing loneliness. Ms Greenwood also mentioned that the cost of living crisis has further exacerbated these issues.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
He highlighted the importance of connectivity, whether physical such as transport or virtual like broadband and mobile phone signal. He praised new bus vehicles in his constituency provided by volunteer networks that offer a lifeline for people.
Patricia Gibson
SNP
North Ayrshire and Arran
Ms Gibson highlighted the difficulty for bus companies in recruiting and retaining drivers, which affects service levels across the UK. She pointed out that services have not returned to pre-pandemic levels and will struggle further with new work visa rules. She highlighted the severe impact of loneliness on elderly people's health, citing statistics from Age UK. She noted that over a quarter of people aged 60 to 74 reported feeling very lonely, with more than a million older people going over a month without speaking to anyone. Gibson also emphasized the importance of community initiatives and social spaces like libraries in combating loneliness.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
She focused on the digital divide's impact, especially among marginalised groups, and advocated for embedding loneliness interventions in public health frameworks. She highlighted local community initiatives and stressed the importance of regular checks on isolated individuals through services like Royal Mail.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Mr Farron highlighted the issue of loneliness and isolation in rural communities, especially for elderly people. He mentioned that his constituency has an older population than the national average and is facing challenges such as lack of permanent residents due to second home ownership and reduced NHS care availability. He also raised concerns about the impact on farmers' mental health due to financial stress from transitioning to new farm payment schemes. Mr Farron called for better planning regulations, digital connectivity, and community hub investments to mitigate isolation.
Government Response
Stuart Andrew
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Sharma. This is my third Westminster Hall debate today; clearly, I am the only Minister on duty. However, that brings with it a personal achievement because it means I have been in this room more often than the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) today. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for St Ives (Derek Thomas) for securing the debate and all hon. Members for their thoughtful contributions on this important issue. Loneliness does not discriminate, and the Government are committed to ensuring that everyone can benefit from the power of meaningful connection, particularly the most vulnerable members of our society. The Minister highlighted research showing that those at risk include people who live alone, disabled individuals, LGBT people, young carers, students, and those on lower incomes. He also mentioned specific life events such as retirement, divorce, and bereavement can trigger loneliness with serious impacts on physical and mental health. To address the issue, the Government have invested almost £80 million into tackling loneliness since 2018, supporting local projects across sectors like Age UK's befriending services and digital inclusion initiatives to bridge the gap for those without access to technology. The Minister also launched the know your neighbourhood fund with up to £30 million to create volunteering opportunities and reduce loneliness in deprived areas. He emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration, noting over 600 organisations from various sectors are part of the tackling loneliness hub. Lastly, he urged people to continue reaching out during and after Christmas as a way to combat isolation.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.