§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department has a policy of not considering applications for employment by persons over a particular age. [59585]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe Wales Office has no formal policy of not considering applications for employment by persons over a particular age.
Since all the permanent civil servants in my Department are secondees, mainly from the National Assembly for Wales, account is taken of Assembly's retirement policy during the recruitment process; that is, staff are not employed beyond the age of 65.