To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how often since 1992 her Department has been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions upon those who could apply. [9510]

Records of recruitment exercises are available only as far back as 1994. The Department has not used aged restrictions in employment advertisements at any time sine 1994 but in practice does not recruit staff over age 60. This is because the normal retirement age for most grades in DSS is age 60.