§ 35. Mr. Waddingtonasked the Secretary of State for the Employment whether he is satisfied that adeqate publicity is being given to the fact, that in the development and intermediate areas, employers who are prepared to train and continue to employ men or women aged 45 or over can now receive special grants from his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BryanNot entirely, because in some places the issue of letters to individual employers was not completed before the postal strike. But the scheme has been publicised in the national and local Press, on local radio, and in all the 201W Department's contacts with local organisations in the areas concerned. These measures will be repeated as necessary.
§ Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for Employment what conclusions he has come to as a result of his review of discrimination by certain firms in the employment of persons aged 45 years and over; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI assume the hon. Member has in mind the reference in my rely on 26th November, 1970, about the need to keep under constant review the employment problems of people in the higher age groups. The new scheme of training grants introduced at the beginning of this year is designed to improve the employment prospects of the older unemployed in the development and intermediate areas where their difficulties are greatest. My Department is considering what more can be done to provide the retraining at higher level which may be needed to help older unemployed executives.—[Vol. 807, c. 607–608.]