HC Deb 02 July 2002 vol 388 c296W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if(a) his Department and (b) its agencies have a policy of not considering applications for employment by persons over a particular age. [59582]

Mr. Lammy

[holding answer 24 May 2002]: At present the Department and its executive agencies have a normal staff retirement age of 60 and do not consider applications for employment from those over that age. However, the Department is now involved in a centrally led initiative, winning the generation game, which will examine age-related issues such as flexible retirement beyond the normal retiring age of 60.

The Department is committed to ensuring that older people are never unfairly discriminated against and complies with the rules and requirements of the `Minister's Rules for Selection', 'The Civil Service Order Council', Her Majesty's Treasury requirements for recruitment and equal opportunity and employment protection legislation.