HC Deb 24 January 1996 vol 270 cc337-9
4. Mr. Stephen

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision is being made for the employment of older workers. [9418]

8. Mr. Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress is being made in the campaign for older workers. [9422]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mrs. Cheryl Gillan)

The Government's economic and labour market policies have led to an increase in employment of 600,000 over the last two and a half years. Thirty-nine per cent. of those jobs have been filled by people aged 50 and above.

Mr. Stephen

Does my hon. Friend agree that older people very often make reliable, experienced and knowledgeable workers? Is not it a tragedy that so many of them are thrown on the scrap heap when they can be most productive? Is there any evidence to suggest that the attitude of employers is shifting towards older workers? Are the Government doing anything to ensure that the attitude does shift?

Mrs. Gillan

The Government are doing something. Our older workers campaign continues apace, particularly with the recent publication of the third booklet in the series entitled "Age Works". It makes no economic or business sense to exclude people because of their age, and many companies—such as B and Q and the Nationwide building society—are now welcoming older workers and older job applicants. I received a letter from a recruitment consultant this week, who wrote: We currently have temporary staff in their 50's and 60's working for us. They are reliable and conscientious and as an agency we have no hesitation in promoting the mature worker".

Mr. Stewart

My hon. Friend has reported considerable and welcome progress to the House, but would she comment on international examples of apparently succesful legislation to ban age discrimination in employment procedures?

Mrs. Gillan

My Department has carried out a study of approximately 20 countries, including the United States where such legislation exists, and no conclusive evidence suggested that it helped older workers when they tried to find a job. I have found that persuasion and our campaign is genuinely working. Richard Worsley, the director of the Carnegie Third Age programme, wrote just this month in People Management: In 1995 I surveyed 500 employers in the United Kingdom about their advertising policies. Nearly 90 per cent. of them replied that they do not or will not use age limits in recruitment advertisements. That magazine has made it clear that, from January, it will no longer accept any recruitment advertisements that exclude some applicants purely on the ground of their age.

Mr. Hain

Is the Minister aware that no progress has been made in many former coal-mining areas, such as my constituency, where 50 per cent. of over-50-year-old men are economically inactive? That is a staggering figure and has contributed to the hopelessness and despair that not only the young, but many middle-aged and older workers, feel. The Government's policies are, more and more, driving them to despair. What is the Minister going to do about that?

Mrs. Gillan

I am very sad to hear that the hon. Gentleman has constituents who feel depressed and are unable to get a job. All I can say is that, from the summer of 1994 to the summer of 1995, employment for the over-45s grew by 1.7 per cent. compared with 0.9 per cent. for the remainder of the work force. I very much hope that his constituents find jobs in the near future.

Mrs. Helen Jackson

In view of the Minister's comments, why have the Government decided not to make student loans available to the over-50s?

Mrs. Gillan

Our policy is well known—[HON MEMBERS: "What is it?] I am concerned to get older workers into jobs. The campaign that is being conducted by the Government is proving its success time after time.

Mr. Rowe

I am pleased to hear about the progress that my hon. Friend has made. She will be as aware as anyone that a man of 50 has the expectation of a further 36 years of life during which he may have low pension expectations. Has she plans to improve the spread of the use of national vocational qualifications to enable older people to validate the considerable experience of life that they have so far gained?

Mrs. Gillan

Opportunities should exist irrespective of age. Everyone with the ability and desire to participate in the labour market should be encouraged to do so for as long as they wish, regardless of age.