§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Employment Directive improves the work opportunities of older people from disadvantaged groups. [146429]
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§ Mr. Sutcliffe[holding answer 12 January 2004]We shall bring legislation into force on 1 October 2006 under the Employment Directive outlawing age discrimination in employment and vocational training. Such legislation will improve the work opportunities of older people from all groups. Our consultation on proposals for this legislation ended in October 2003. We shall consult on draft regulations later this year. People who experience discrimination on other grounds will continue to be protected under the relevant current discrimination legislation.
In the meantime the Government encourages employers, through the Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment, and the Age Positive campaign, to adopt non-ageist approaches to recruitment, selection, training and development, promotion, redundancy and retirement.