§ Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which of Her Majesty's Ministers is responsible for policy combating ageism. [HL5979]
81WA
§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville:The Ministers with primary responsibility for combating ageism are as follows; Barbara Roche MR Minister for Women in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, reporting to my right honourable friend Patricia Hewitt MP on this, is responsible for implementation of the European Employment Directive Article 13 of the Treaty of Rome that will prevent age discrimination in employment and vocational training, supported by officials in the Department of Trade and Industry.
The right honourable Ian McCartney MP, Minister of State for Pensions, is responsible for tackling age discrimination in employment. This includes promoting the business benefits of age diversity to employers through the Age Positive campaign.
Two Cabinet sub-committees lead on these areas, the Cabinet sub-Committee on Equality (DA(EQ)) and the Cabinet sub-Committee on Older People (DA(OP)).
82WAMinisters in other government departments have responsibility for tackling ageism in their own policies and programmes.
§ Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why are there laws to prevent discrimination on grounds of sex, race and religion but not of age. [HL5981]
§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville:The Government are committed to introducing legislation under the European Employment Directive outlawing age discrimination in employment and vocational training by December 2006. Legislation relating to the sexual orientation and religion or belief strands of the directive will be implemented by December 2003.
The Government have already sought views on a number of general age issues in the consultation document Towards Equality and Diversity. There will be a second consultation by summer 2003 on specific proposals for implementation of age discrimination legislation.