The issue of social care for our ever increasing elderly population is a ticking timebomb that is set to impact heavily on our society over future generations.

Recent figures have suggested that there will be almost 94,000 pensioners in the district by the year 2026, a massive 36 per cent increase on the count in 2007.

So it is vital we have all the evidence possibly available to show the true extent of this issue, and to look at the very real concerns this poses for Bradford Council and other local authorities and for central government.

The new report by Bradford East MP David Ward must be welcomed for highlighting these fears, talking to real people and discovering what their needs are, and it will now be part of the evidence given to the Government’s Draft Care and Support Bill.

This is an issue this paper has long campaigned on, with our With Respect campaign highlighting the need to provide the resources to allow our older generations to enjoy their twilight years with dignity and be afforded the kind of treatment they deserve.

Anything that can help to ensure they are not treated as a burden and that sheds more light on the problems our whole society faces over this issue is helpful when it comes to tackling this growing issue.

There will be no easy answers for what is becoming a huge problem for us all.

What is clear though is that this is an issue that must not be compromised by spending cuts.

Our elderly deserve the utmost respect, and we must never allow society to scrimp and save in terms of putting resources into their care.