§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often since 1992 his Department or its predecessor Departments have been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions upon those who could apply. [9511]
§ Angela Eagle[pursuant to her reply, 24 July, c. 694]: Employment advertisements placed by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have not carried age restrictions for some years. This Department believes that older workers have a great deal to offer in the way of skills and experience and we welcome applications from people irrespective of their age. However, certain advertisements placed by its agencies have reflected age criteria appropriate for specific jobs. A lower age limit of 25 is imposed on the Vehicle Inspectorate's traffic examiners and the Driving Standards Authority's driving examiners. The Coastguard Agency used to recruit watch officers only between the ages of 27 and 50, but this restriction ceased in 1995. In 1996 the planning inspectorate advertised for inspectors who could offer 10 years' service prior to the normal retirement age.