Scotland's Futures Forum assesses tomorrow's population, pensions and wealth creation

121/2005 | 13 December 2005

Assessing the impact of Scotland 's projected ageing workforce and population will be the focus of a major parliamentary event organised by Scotland 's Futures Forum.

The 'Tomorrow Network in Scotland' event will bring together more than one hundred policymakers, academics and business people at Holyrood on Thursday 15 December for an afternoon and evening of free-thinking and analysis.

Presentations from academia and industry will consider issues such as the potential benefits from Scotland having an ageing workforce and how these could affect our social and economic structures.

The Futures Forum has identified 'positive ageing' as a key priority in its work in the coming year. The day's proceedings will include a workshop session followed by a networking event, hosted by the Futures Forum in association with the Scottish Executive, The Tomorrow Project, Careers Scotland and Scottish Council Foundation .

Presiding Officer George Reid said:

"The Futures Forum is all about bringing together the key thinkers to examine the issues we face 'over the horizon'.

"Scotland 's ageing and declining population is clearly a challenge, but this week's event also offers the chance to explore the opportunities for new ways of working and creating wealth in the 21st century."

Background and media access arrangements

The event will include a presentation from Tomorrow's Company, an independent business-led think tank, on its recently-published report, "The Ageing Population, Pensions and Wealth Creation". The report was co-authored by author and business strategist Philip Sadler.

The report challenges the assumptions which have created a sense of crisis which often surrounds discussions of pensions and states that, as a society, we can afford to grow old.

It also makes observations on a wide range of social issues, including wealth division, the demand for older workers and productivity. It follows a report from last year, "Restoring Trust - an inquiry into the effectiveness of the UK investment system", which concluded that the financial services industry must restore trust in itself, by developing a set of principles and standards and setting targets for progress and continuous improvement.

The event will also feature presentations from Jim McCormack and Linda Boyes of the Scottish Council Foundation; John Elvidge, Permanent Secretary, the Scottish Executive; and Richard Worsley, who has co-authored a new report for the Tomorrow Project titled " Working in The Twenty - First Century".

Programme for ' Tomorrow Network in Scotland '

Workshop - 'Changing lives', Committee Room 1, Holyrood

15.00 - 15.10: Introduction by Alex Neil MSP and Sarah Boyack MSP, Scotland 's Futures Forum

15.10 - 15.40: Tomorrow's Company present their recently published work on

'The Ageing Population, Pensions and Wealth Creation'

15.40 - 16.10: Jim McCormack and Linda Boyes: Scottish Council Foundation, present their findings from their current projects:

"The coming of Age: re-working Lives" and "Constructive Scenarios for a Shifting Population"

16.10 - 16.50: Workshop discussion

16.50 - 17.00: Closing remarks. John Elvidge, Permanent Secretary, the Scottish Executive

Network event: 'The future of work', Committee Room 1, Holyrood

17.00 - 17.25: Sandwiches and coffee

17.25 - 17.30 : Introduction: The Rt Hon George Reid MSP, Presiding Officer

17.30 - 18.00 : Richard Worsley, The Tomorrow Project, presents: ' Working in The Twenty - First Century' Co-authored by Michael Moynagh and Richard Worsley and jointly published with the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council)

18.00 - 19.00 : Responses from Professor C. Baldry, Stirling University and Professor J. Hyman, Aberdeen University . This will be followed by questions and debate.

19.00 - 20.00: Reception in the Garden Lobby.

Media Access Arrangements

Members of the media are welcome to attend, but spaces are limited. To ensure a seat is available, please advise Ross Clark in the Media Relations Office of your attendance, no later than 10am on the morning of Thursday 15 December, on 0131 348 6088 or ross.clark@scottish.parliament.uk .

Media without Scottish Parliament media accreditation should contact the Scottish Parliament Media Relations Office to organise a day pass.

Photography

Photographs will be available by contacting Andrew Cowan in the Scottish Parliament's Media Relations Office on 0131 348 6269 or andrew.cowan@scottish.parliament.uk. Any press photographers or TV cameras who wish access should contact Ross Clark in advance to discuss requirements.

Scotland's Futures Forum (SFF)

The SFF Board, which is chaired by the Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon George Reid MSP, was established on 18 August 2005 . The other Board members are: Sarah Boyack MSP, Campbell Christie, John Elvidge, Margaret Ford, Alex Neil MSP, Tim O'Shea, and Susan Rice.

Key events to date:

• The Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland has offered SFF assistance to undertake any financial research required by MSPs during futures projects.

• Lord Browne, Group Chief Executive of petroleum company BP plc, has agreed to address MSPs on global futures at an SFF event in June 2006.

• SFF is developing a Futures event with the Cross Party Group on the Economy and the BBC series Dragons' Den on future conditions for entrepreneurs in Scotland .

• Senior civil servants from the Northern Ireland Office have been to Holyrood to examine how the SFF model can be adapted for futures thinking in Northern Ireland . The Office of the French Prime Minister has described SFF on its website as "creative and innovative" and "an initiative to be watched".

For more information on Scotland 's Futures Forum, please follow these links:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/futures_forum.htm " Scotland 's Futures Forum" - a briefing note

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-05/pa05-097.htm "Selling Scotland 's Scientific Excellence"

The Parliament's media contact is:

Eric MacLeod: 0131 348 5389
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
email: eric.macleod@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk