THE creation of a commissioner for older people in Wales is an interesting move but fraught with potential pitfalls which must be avoided if this is not to be seen as a token gesture.

The National Assembly administration is claiming a world first with the appointment of Ruth Marks to the post.

But unless Ms Marks comes forward with proper policy initiatives to improve the quality of life of old people in Wales, then the position will be worthless.

Elderly people make up 25 per cent of the population in Wales, a figure which is set to rise in years to come.

In many cases older people are the most self sufficient group in society. Many have been through hardship and survived.

They have brought up families with all the stresses that can bring and they have coped with bereavements and so on.

However as a group they do have problems. For many, the greatest concerns are of loneliness and isolation, they also fear perceived threats of anti-social behaviour.

If issues such as these can be tackled in a meaningful way then the commissioner for older people will succeed.

This is an innovative way to bring added value but we have yet to be convinced that the children's commissioner has been more than a token in the six years since that post was created.

What is needed are real policies which yield results.