To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will make it her policy to ensure that employers are required to give reasons for requiring a person to retire. (302463)

I have been asked to reply.

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 provide for a statutory retirement procedure which includes an employee's right to request to stay in employment beyond retirement age and a default retirement age of 65 that employers can use if they wish. The Government fixed the default retirement age at 65 for sound policy reasons and the High Court has confirmed that it is objectively justified. There is therefore no requirement for employers to give a reason why they are retiring someone if using the default retirement age.

We have brought forward the planned review of the default retirement age from 2011 to 2010. The review will consider whether the default retirement age remains appropriate and necessary.