§ Mr. LazarowiczTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets he has set for reducing discrimination against older people. [36344]
§ Mr. McCartneyWe are vigorously promoting the benefits of recruiting, training and retaining older workers as part of our Age Positive campaign and to help employers prepare for the introduction of employment legislation by 2006.
We have set ourselves a target of increasing the employment rate of people aged 50 and over. The new deal 50 plus has already helped 127 people move into work in the hon. Member's constituency. Our new Jobcentre Plus service will help all those people on benefits who want to find work, regardless of age. [One of the Jobcentre Plus pathfinders is near to my hon. Friend's constituency, in Livingston]. We are building on the success of the measures we have already taken which have helped increase the employment rate for older people in each of the past four years.