Atkins asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to reduce the qualifying age for the job release scheme to 60 years.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to question no. 1. The matter of the qualifying age will be further considered.

In view of the large numbers of people involved, would not even a phased reduction of the age to 60 provide many thousands of jobs for younger people? Is it not a fact that there is an even more urgent need because of the rapid development of microcomputer technology?

This is a cost-effective way of dealing with the problem. Nevertheless, it entails additional resources and therefore must be looked at in the light of overall priorities. However, it is being considered further.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this is some of the new thinking that many of our colleagues want? Is he aware that reducing the retirement age to 60, or perhaps even to 64, is the quickest and most effective way of reducing the unacceptably high level of unemployment? Will be persuade his colleagues to treat this as a matter of urgency?

My hon. Friend has widened the question to that of the overall retirement age, as opposed to the job release scheme. I have answered questions on that previously and pointed out the high cost of reducing the overall retirement age, which is primarily a matter for the Secretary of State for Social Services.