§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to develop a code of practice for public sector employers concerning age discrimination in employment.
§ Miss WiddecombeAge discrimination is wasteful and short sighted. Our policy is to persuade employers in both the public and private sector to recruit and develop staff on merit regardless of age.
The civil service abolished age limits on recruitment to service-wide grades in 1990.
Recently I launched "Getting On"—a drive to combat ageism which offers employers a five point plan to do just this. It urges all employers to follow the lead of the best and drop age bars from job adverts; welcome applications from older people; select on ability; offer flexible arrangements; develop and train all staff, regardless of age.