To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 on company benefits available to retired employees; and if he will make a statement. (131993)

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations implement the age strand of Directive 2000/78 EC establishing a framework for equal treatment in employment and vocational training. This requirement makes it unlawful for pension schemes to discriminate against members or prospective members of a pension scheme and was introduced in December 2006.

In the last few months, companies have been reviewing their occupational pension schemes in compliance with these regulations. The Government’s aim has been to ensure that occupational pension provision will not be jeopardised by this legislation, but it is still too early to assess the effect in practice of these regulations.