To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to establish a strategy to tackle age discrimination and promote age equality in the provision of goods and services (a) by her Department and (b) within the sectors for which she has policy responsibility; and if she will make a statement. (210463)

I will consider the case for a strategy on age discrimination and the promotion of age equality in the light of the Government’s response to the consultation exercise “A Framework for Fairness”.

Meanwhile I can assure the hon. Member that we are aware of the needs of older people and take them very seriously. Since 2000, our Warm Front programme has helped around 800,000 older households to improve heating and energy efficiency. The Supporting People programme, created in 2003, helps around 840,000 older people a year with housing support services. Working with other Departments and external partners we launched on 25 February this year Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society. This is a major new housing strategy giving older people greater choice and addressing the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.