§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 160, what consideration he has given to instructing jobcentres to refuse the acceptance of job vacancies with age restrictions in all circumstances where the employer cannot prove that age limits are essential to the performance of the job. [25804]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Government are not convinced that refusing to accept vacancies with age restrictions would persuade many employers to change their attitudes. Those employers who currently insist on imposing age restrictions may choose to fill their vacancies by other means. We are concerned that any movement away from using jobcentres would have a harmful effect on the job prospects of the unemployed, especially those who are disadvantaged.