Discrimination
against older people is a serious problem that must be tackled at
the highest levels, Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and
Equality said today.
The increase in the number of well, older people demands a change
in public policy. We must recognise the emergence of the
“wellderly” and the role that well, elderly people play in their
families, in the economy and in society.
The idea that someone is “past it” when they reach 65, denying
people insurance cover simply because of their age, and endemic
ageism towards women in the media are all outdated attitudes that
need to be consigned to history, the Minister told an Age Concern
/ Help The Aged conference in central London.
Speaking at the Age UK event, Harriet Harman said:
"We still have to challenge the old-fashioned notion
that defines you through your importance to the world of work, and
that when you no longer work sees you as ‘past it’. We still have
more to do to tackle the attitude that once you reach 60 you are
just treading water until you become frail and dependent.
"This is important not just for those individuals
concerned but for the economy as a whole. We have to banish the
ageism in the workplace that costs an estimated to cost the
economy up to £31 billion per year due to lost GDP.
"Ageism against older women in the media is also serious
problem. While the broadcast media finds it possible to value the
older man as having experience and wisdom they don’t seem to be
able to value the older woman in the same way.
"Older people are the last remaining group that society
deems it acceptable to discriminate against. This is a problem
that we are determined to tackle at the higest level, which is why
our Equality Bill reinforces this Government’s commitment to
ending age discrimination wherever it arises."
The Equality Bill, which enters committee stage in the House of
Lords today, will strengthen the law when it comes to older people
and those who look after them by:
· Providing new legal
protection from discrimination to those at work because they are
caring for an older member of their family;
· By placing a legal obligation on public bodies, such as
planning authorities, to protect and promote the needs of older
people when planning their services;
· And by banning age discrimination in the provision of goods and
services so that older people are not unfairly disadvantaged in
things such as travel insurance and loans.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
· The Government Equalities Office is responsible for the
Government’s overall strategy, legislation, and priorities on
equality issues. The Office also has direct responsibility for
policy on gender equality, sexual orientation, and for integrating
work on race. The Prime Minister announced the establishment of
the Government Equalities Office (GEO) in July 2007 and it became
a Department in its own right in October 2007. It works to
Ministers Harriet Harman, Maria Eagle, Vera Baird and Michael Foster.
· The ban on age discrimination will not affect cases where
services benefit older people, for example allowing an insurance
company to only offer travel insurance to the over-50s, or the
Government’s successful and popular policy of providing free bus
passes to people aged 60 and above.
Contacts:
Government Equalities Office press office
Phone: 0207 276 0932
enquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Gavin Watson
Phone: 020 7276 0932
gavin.watson@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk