§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy on the advertising of jobs at jobcentres where firms wish to place age restrictions upon applicants.
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 31 October 1994]: Where this occurs, the Employment Service tries to persuade employers to consider job seekers on their merits. The ES has produced a leaflet, "What's Age got to do with it?", designed to persuade employers not to impose upper age limits. If an employer insists on setting a limit, the vacancy will still be advertised. However, this would not prevent ES staff from approaching an employer on behalf of an otherwise suitable job seeker who falls outside the limit stated.