Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Jane Ellison Excerpts
Thursday 19th April 2012

(12 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness Featherstone Portrait Lynne Featherstone
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I have not changed one bit my view that we should push that through. Our consultation proposed a ban on age discrimination in health and social care, and that there should be no exceptions to that, unlike other issues. It is an important lever, and the delay has come about because we want to make sure we get it right. We have consulted on the exceptions, and we are taking our time on them to ensure that we get it right. We will come forward as soon as we have made a decision, and I am sure that that will be soon.

Jane Ellison Portrait Jane Ellison (Battersea) (Con)
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Will the Minister welcome the statistic in the most recent employment figures showing the growing number of women over 50 entering the labour market? They are clearly overcoming age discrimination.

Baroness Featherstone Portrait Lynne Featherstone
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It was good to read that female employment for over-50s has increased by nearly 200,000 in the past 12 months. I understand that most of those jobs are due to business start-ups, which the Government are keen to encourage.