Today sees the long awaited publication of the Equality Bill

The Government promised the Bill in its manifesto before the last election and while it marks a great step forward, Age Concern and Help the Aged feels there is still some way to go towards a complete ban on ageist practices.

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director for Age Concern and Help the Aged, says:

'The Equality Bill will be gladly received by the millions of older people who suffer age discrimination on a daily basis.  It is a milestone in the battle for fairness in later life.

'But the Bill only gives ministers the power to ban age discrimination in services if they wish. We want to see an unbreakable legal commitment to introduce new rights, across the public and private sectors.

'Age discrimination in health and social care services can literally mean the difference between life and death. Because of their age, older people are being denied vital treatments with no legal protection. Each day older people are refused financial products like travel insurance for no better reason than the date on their birth certificate.

'The Equality Bill offers a huge opportunity to bring an end to unacceptable ageist practises. We warmly welcome it. But until the promise of new rights is irreversible, we will continue our campaign for fair treatment.'

Age Concern and Help the Aged is also calling on the Government to use the opportunity presented by the Bill to address the outmoded national default retirement age. This legislation allows companies to force healthy and capable employees out of a job simply because of their age, even if they wish to continue working past 65.

Michelle Mitchell continues: 'Many politicians and employers have already recognised that a national default retirement age no longer makes sense and the majority of the public want to see it abolished too. The Equality Bill is the perfect opportunity for the Government to end this blatant form of discrimination.'