The Welsh Assembly Government has said it has no power to introduce universal free care to elderly people in residential homes as part of a �10m strategy to improve the lot of older people.

The "Strategy for Older People in Wales" - aimed at people over 50 - looks to end discrimination, promote employment, improve health, bolster independence and plan for an ever-ageing nation.

But there will be no commissioner for older people, or free residential care, which is available to people in Scotland following a ruling by the Scottish executive.

Ageing Wales

Numbers of pensioners to rise by 11% by 2022 Number of those aged 85+ to rise by third by 2020 As many people in their 60s as in their 20s and 30s by 2020 People will progressively live longer Challenge to provide more care

Cardiff pensioner Barry Cooper, who gave evidence to the assembly during public consultations, said an older people's "champion" was needed in the political arena.

Mr Cooper is involved with the group Prime, which attempts the harness the employment skills and experience of the over 50s.

"People do not stop being useful at retirement age; they have a brain and are still able to contribute to society.

"Really, we need a person in the assembly and at local government level who is particularly aware of the issues effecting the elderly and who can scrutinize every action of the assembly," he said.

"I spoke to a cabinet minister the other day who said that when she got to her parents' age, she would not be satisfied with the services on offer. She is already thinking about that time.

"The assembly has 21 action points - out of 100 recommendations we put forward - but I do not think it knows what it is talking about.

"Lifelong learning, for instance, for the elderly is not about sitting down pensioners in children's chairs at night class to get an NVQ accreditation. They want to learn things they can put into practice."

The plan is the assembly government's response to the challenge of a retirement-age demographic set to rocket by 650,000 (11%) by 2022.

Drawn up by an internal advisory group which reported in May, the strategy unites disparate policy areas to level the playing field between young and old.

Over three years of implementing its recommendations, ministers will create a cabinet sub-committee to coordinate policy and a national policy forum to give older people a voice.

'Work barriers'

Social Services Minister Jane Hutt said: "Older people play a vital role in society and we must ensure this is recognised and that their contribution is both valued and further enhanced.

"We need to remove barriers to the employment of older people."

Ministers want to give people new energy

But the strategy says the Welsh Assembly does not have enough power to introduce free personal care, as the Scottish Executive has done.

Ministers said they would continue to pressure Westminster for the power to implement the policy, which would cost an estimated �67m annually.

About 75% of Welsh nursing home residents receive care free because they have no savings.

The remaining 2,400 residents, who have assets, must pay at least �300 weekly.

However, residents no longer have to pay for nursing care following an Assembly Government commitment last year to pay �100 per week for every person who is assessed to need it.

'Lacks reality'

The report rules out a Commissioner for Older People - in line with the Children's Commission for Wales, a post unique in the UK - which Age Concern had called for.

But Plaid Cymru AM Owen John Thomas promised to be critical during the plenary debate.

"The ... strategy lacks reality, as it ignores their main source of upkeep - their pensions," he said.

He called on Westminster to implement EU laws protecting workers' pensions from employers' insolvency.