Law 'will ban age discrimination'
By Sue Littlemore
Social affairs correspondent, BBC News
The government is to bring forward new legislation to outlaw all forms of age discrimination, the BBC has learned.
Equalities Minister Harriet Harman is expected to announce the plan on Thursday as part of a package of measures in an Equalities Bill.
The proposals, which are to be adopted across England, Wales and Scotland, will also include policies to tackle the gender pay gap.
Campaigners have long argued that prejudice based on age is widespread.
Age discrimination in the workplace has been illegal since 2006, but the new legislation will tackle more widespread forms of age-related prejudice.
Goods and services
Travel, health and motor insurance is also expected to be included, where cover is simply withdrawn beyond a certain age or is prohibitively expensive.
David Clark, 76, from London, has campaigned for action against age discrimination through the charity Help the Aged.
He told the BBC that when he was 75, he was told the cost of travel insurance for a two-week holiday to America would be £175.
However, he had to postpone the trip and had turned 76 when he wanted to resume planning for the journey.
"This time, the same insurance was going to cost me £831," he said.
"None of my circumstances had changed, including my health. The only difference and reason for the increase was that I was now over 75."
The Association of British Insurers denies its members are unfair in their policies.
It argues that they do not discriminate against older people, but simply take account of risk.
However, groups such as Help the Aged challenge that.
But new laws and regulations often meet resistance from employers, organisations and individuals, who resent what they see as the state meddling in their business.
The moral case for eradicating discrimination in all its forms is easy. The new Equalities Bill will have to do something much harder.
To be successful, the bill must not just promote policies based on knowing what is right, but policies which will inspire action that works as well.
Abridged
SOURCE: BBC
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