The Government has announced new legislation aimed at making ageism illegal.

 

Equalities Minister Harriet Harman unveiled the first draft of the Equalities Bill this morning in Parliament. It will outlaw discrimination through the provision of goods and services on the basis of age.

Help the Aged welcomes the news, which marks a great success for our Just Equal Treatment campaign.

Michael Lake, Director General of Help the Aged, said: 'For a long time the Government would not accept that age discrimination was a problem. Now it has, the timetable for action is absolutely crucial.

'Legislation must be enacted without delay so older people can be on a truly equal footing as soon as possible.'

'Legislation must be enacted without delay'

The Charity's Just Equal Treatment campaign called on the Government to make age discrimination illegal in the provision of goods and services, and to extend the public sector equality duty - which currently requires local authorities to promote equality between people of different race, gender and disability status - to include age so that older people’s needs are taken into account in public services.