---

Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [HL]

I shall deal first with Amendments Nos. 15, 29, 30, 45, and 11 tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Livsey. These amendments replace references to ‘the interests of older people in Wales’ in Clauses 2, 3, 5 and 18 of the Bill with the term ‘the interests and rights of older people in Wales’. I will then turn to Amendments Nos. 16 and 22, which have a common theme in their connection to the Bill’s reference to the United Nations Principles for Older Persons in considering the ““interests of older people””. In my view, these principles are key to our consideration of the wider rights of older people. As to the first two sets of amendments, it seems that it is the intention of the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, to widen the commissioner’s powers and remit to ensure that he is able to take action to further the rights as well as the interests of older people in Wales. It is our view that the term ““interests”” is wider than ““rights””; it is also wider than ““needs””. So I am beginning to wonder whether there is confusion and that we are both talking about the same thing but approaching it in a different way.