§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how often since its establishment his Department has been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions upon those who could apply. [9509]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithFor jobs within the Department and the Employment Service, no age restrictions apply with the exception of places on the modern apprenticeship scheme where age limits reflect the requirements of the national program.
When advertising posts for other employers, the Employment Service challenges age restrictions placed on vacancies to try to persuade employers to consider jobseekers on their merits. However, no records are kept of the number of vacancies displayed with age restrictions.