24-7-02

Barrett backs age equality campaign

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today backed a campaign to stamp out age discrimination in health, education and employment.

Mr Barrett is supporting the Age Equality Contract, which is spearheaded by Age Concern and follows a study showing one third of 55-64 year olds in the UK having faced discrimination in the workplace, directly because of their age.

John Barrett MP said:

“Although some of the measures the Government has taken on age discrimination is to be welcomed, such as the adoption of the E.U. directive on equal treatment in employment, stricter UK legislation is still required to ensure efforts against ageism are given the same priority as similar programmes against racism and sexism.”

“The Age Equality Contract, put forward by Age Concern, seeks to tackle age discrimination in several key areas. In employment, older people should be judged on their knowledge and abilities and not their age but far too many older people still feel discriminated against in their place of work. Health care should be allocated according to need yet one in six people over 65 have still faced discrimination because of their age. And in the marketplace, the contribution older people make to the economy should be better acknowledged with the ending of discrimination by credit cards companies and lenders which continues today.

“Older people, with a lifetime’s experience and wisdom, have a huge amount to offer and have an important role to play in our society. Hopefully, through this campaign, the Government will take note and take action.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Mr Barrett has signed the following Early Day Motion

EDM 1631 – Age Concern’s Age Equality Contract

That this House supports Age Concern's Age Equality Contract; recognises the valuable contributions that older people make to society; and calls on the Government to show its support for older people's demands and produce a detailed plan on how it will end age discrimination in five key areas where thousands suffer ageism on a daily basis, namely in employment, health, social care, learning and the marketplace.