Ageing population: Time to act

Friday 19th October 2007, 12:00AM BST.

THE Council of Ministers are to hold a third Imagine Jersey event, this time on the biggest threat to the Island’s future quality of life – the ageing population.

Within three decades there will be more residents of retirement age than of working age, and that means more people drawing state pensions but fewer contributing to Social Security to pay for them. One of the issues the Island will be asked to face up to is the potential need for more young people to be allowed into the Island to pay for the services that the older population will require, including a bigger Health Service. The Council of Ministers say they want all Islanders to contribute ideas to how Jersey should cope with an issue that is affecting all countries as life expectancy grows.

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