Banning age discrimination: consultation launched
29th June 2009
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) today outlined further
proposals for a new legal ban on harmful age discrimination, which
will make sure older people do not face unfair or substandard
treatment when they are buying goods or using services, such as in
shops, hospitals, or when accessing car and holiday
insurance.
The consultation published today “Equality
Bill: Making it work – ending age discrimination in services and
public functions” sets out how the legislation will enable
things that are beneficial to continue such as age-based holidays
and discounts for pensioners.
Banning age discrimination is particularly
important as the population ages: by 2050, over half of the UK’s
population will be over 50 years old.
Vera Baird, Solicitor General and
Equality Bill Lead Minister, said:
“Older people make a strong contribution
to society and it is totally wrong if they are treated unfairly.
They must not be denied a full role in society. We all lose out if
people are excluded and it is particularly silly to let that happen
because people are getting older; it happens to us all.
“Today’s consultation is about making sure
beneficial things continue, such as discounts for pensioners, while
harmful age discrimination is consigned to the past.”
The ban could mean that an older person is
offered lifestyle advice after suffering a heart attack, which may
currently only be offered to younger people, or that older people
get better access to travel and car insurance.
Dame Joan Bakewell, Voice of Older
People, said:
“I receive a steady stream of
letters from older people, providing clear evidence that they
feel marginalised and undervalued. I welcome the government's
determination to put that right."
Today’s consultation:
- Describes the work that is being done to
ensure access to health and social care services
is based on need, not age.
- Proposes requiring providers of
financial services and insurance to be transparent
and publish the evidence that justifies treating people of
different ages accordingly, because of differences in risk. It also
seeks views on ways to help people find the right insurance policy
through signposting or referrals to other
insurers, giving older people confidence they are getting
a good deal, as well as a fair one.
- Proposes exceptions from the age
discrimination ban to ensure other beneficial age-based
activities, such as holidays for people of particular
ages, can continue.
- Proposes that car hire
companies should not be able to refuse to hire cars to
older people
- Invites views on the timetable for
implementing the age discrimination ban.
The Government will bring the new law into
force in phases, starting with those sectors which are most ready
to comply. It is expected that the legislation will be in
force in all sectors, with the exception of health and social care,
in 2012.
The Equality Bill sets out groundbreaking new
laws which will help narrow the gap between rich and poor; enable
business to be required to report on gender pay; outlaw age
discrimination; and
will significantly strengthen Britain’s anti-discrimination
legislation.
The Equality Bill will simplify the law which,
over the last four decades, has become complex and difficult to
navigate. Nine major pieces of legislation and around 100 other
measures will be replaced by a single Act written in plain English
to make it easier for individuals and employers to understand their
legal rights and obligations.
The Equality Bill will strengthen our equality
law by:
1. Introducing a
new public sector duty to consider reducing socio-economic
inequalities;
2. Putting a new
Equality Duty on public bodies;
3. Using public
procurement to improve equality;
4. Banning age
discrimination outside the workplace;
5. Introducing
gender pay reports;
6. Extending the
scope to use positive action;
7. Strengthening
the powers of employment tribunals;
8. Protecting
carers from discrimination;
9. Offering new
mothers stronger protection when breastfeeding;
10. Banning discrimination in private
clubs; and
11. Strengthening protection from
discrimination for disabled people.
The consultation runs until 30th
September 2009. More details are at http://www.equalities.gov.uk/
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Please contact the Government Equalities
Office press office on:
0207 276 0988 / 0207 276 0932 / 0207 276
0996
NOTES FOR EDITORS
- The Oxera report into the use of age-based
practices in financial services, is also published today and can be
viewed at: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/
- The Equality Bill is expected to come in to
force from autumn 2010.
- The Equality Bill will cover England,
Scotland, and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own equality
legislation.
- The Equality Bill will replace the Equal Pay
Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act
1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, much of the Equality
Act 2006, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations
2003, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations
2003, the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, and the
Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 (where
applicable, as subsequently amended), plus other ancillary pieces
of legislation.
- More details of the Equality Bill are in
‘A Fairer Future’ which can be viewed at: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/
- The Government is publishing its new
ageing strategy shortly, which is looking at
creating an age friendly society, preparing for and living well in
later life, as well as making sure stronger protection and support
is available: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/ageing-society/preparing/
- The Government Equalities
Office is responsible for the Government’s overall
strategy, legislation and priorities on equality issues. It was
established in October 2007.
Age
discrimination in the workplace has been banned since
2006.
[2] Aged 18 or over, outside of the workplace
Subject to
successfully passing through Parliament.