Arun set to be 'elderly capital'

The increasing size of the elderly population was revealed by the Office for National Statistics alongside the latest pensions proposals from the government.

The figures show Arun will have the highest proportion of 65-plus men and women in West Sussex at 35.1 per cent of the population in two decades' time.

This is way above the next highest district - Chichester at 32.1 per cent '“ and almost double the youngest population at Crawley.

Arun's place at the top of the age league in 20 years confirms its current position with more over-65s '“ at 26.8 per cent '“ than anywhere else in the south-east.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith said: "People are living longer and healthier lives than ever, and the last thing we want is to lose their talent and enthusiasm from the workplace due to an arbitrary age limit.

"We also need to recognise that to meet the challenge of providing an affordable, stable pensions system in a society with ever increasing life expectancy, people will need to work longer."

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