Employment: Universal Jobmatch

Lord Davies of Stamford Excerpts

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

We have a thorough communication exercise to jobseekers to make sure that they look after their information online, just as anyone else needs to be careful with their information online, and we are currently looking to enhance our service through Universal Jobmatch to make sure that we do not have this kind of problem.

[Lord Davies of Stamford (Lab)]

My Lords, there is quite a lot of anecdotal evidence, certainly in Lincolnshire and I suspect elsewhere, that it is disproportionately difficult for older people in their 50s and early 60s to get jobs through the jobcentre system. In the event that there is evidence of age discrimination against applicants, it is very unreasonable to expect the applicant, who may be a man or woman without means or with very slender means, to pursue his or her own legal redress. Is it the Government’s policy in such circumstances to pursue the case and if possible to prosecute? Have there been any prosecutions for age discrimination instigated by or supported by the department?

[Lord Freud]

The Government do not support age discrimination of any kind, particularly in looking for jobs and we are vigilant to make sure that people do not experience such discrimination.