Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to protect people over the age of 60 who may be made redundant as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps they are taking to assist those who have been made redundant to return to work.

We are providing £1.2bn to enhance work search support service in Great Britain and doubling the number of frontline Work Coaches in Jobcentre Plus before the end of the financial year.

In addition, support for older workers also includes:

• The Department’s work with employer organisations – including CIPD, British Chambers of Commerce, ACAS, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Business Champion for Older Workers – to reach small and medium enterprises;

• work with Local Enterprise Partnerships to support employers with statistical data and practical support. In particular, for local small and medium enterprises we provide information and resources for an ageing workforce; and

• our Work Coaches will work with older claimants to ensure that commitments are tailored to allow them to adhere to public health advice, while engaging with the labour market;

• in addition, Jobcentre Plus Older Claimants Champions work with Work Coaches to deliver Jobcentre Plus’s commitment to support older people to find work and stay in work. Champions liaise with employers and providers to promote and raise the profile and benefits of employing older workers.

The online service Find a Job (www.gov.uk/find-a-job) has many of these jobs and can be used to search and apply.