HC Deb 16 April 1996 vol 275 cc398-9W
Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action the Government are taking within the Council of Ministers to end age discrimination in Europe.[25330]

Mrs. Gillan

The Government's policy is to tackle age discrimination through this Department's campaign for older workers. The campaign, which I head, operates through persuasion and education. It aims to persuade employers of the business benefits in recruiting, retraining and retaining workers on merit; to raise awareness of the importance of older workers; and to support older workers in remaining active in the labour market.

On the 29 June 1995, the Council of Ministers adopted the resolution on the employment of older workers, reference 8258/95 SOC 201. A copy has been deposited in the House of Commons Library. The resolution recognises the significance of older workers as an employment issue. Equally, it recognises the importance of member states following their own policies in combating this problem.