§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the director general of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the employment of workers, aged over 50 years by British industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NichollsMy right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so, but I am arranging to meet the appropriate CBI employer panel in the near future to discuss the issue of employment of older workers. It is both irresponsible and unfair to discriminate without justification on grounds of age. I am encouraged that the Confederation of British Industry is seeking to draw to all employers' attention the implications of current demographic trends, and in particular the decline in numbers of young people.