To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department has taken to raise awareness of the Age Discrimination Regulations among (a) employers and (b) employees. (125156)

ACAS good practice guidance for employers and employees, and DTI guidance on the occupational pensions aspects of the regulations were published in April 2006. The DTI website contains additional guidance, including the explanatory notes on regulations. The Directgov and BusinessLink sites also provide information and an interactive tool for individuals and employers. The Department for Work and Pensions' ‘Be Ready’ campaign has provided 1.4 million employers with practical information about age good practice and the legislation, and there has been substantial demand for further in depth information.

DTI's £l million capacity building programme provided funds for activities aimed at raising individuals’ and employees’ awareness of their new rights, and for up-skilling advice providers in the field of age discrimination. DTI has also committed a further £100,000 for a media campaign to increase levels of individual awareness of the age discrimination legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of employer redundancy schemes that could be unlawful under the age discrimination regulations. (125157)

The Government do not hold details of employers' individual redundancy schemes. Any such schemes that do not come within the exemption provided in the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 would still be lawful if they can be objectively justified.