I thought the following extract from a paper presently in preparation for circulation at work might be of interest:
The DTI has issued a further consultation paper on its proposals for outlawing age discrimination so as to comply with the European Employment Directive 2000/78/EC. Legislation implementing the Government's proposals will come into force on 1 October 2006.
The Government intends to outlaw direct and indirect discrimination on the basis of age in employment and vocational training. Retirement ages that employers set for employees will be unlawful, unless objectively justified. The Government is, however, consulting on whether the legislation should provide for employers, exceptionally, to be able to justify mandatory retirement ages if their particular circumstances made it appropriate and necessary. The Government is also consulting on whether to have a default age of 70 at or after which employers could require employees to retire without having to justify their decision. It should be noted, however, that the Government is not committed to including either of these proposals in its final legislation.