To ask Her Majesty's Government what response they will send to organisations advocating an end to compulsory retirement ages. [HL1316]

The UK does not have a national compulsory retirement age. The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 introduced a default retirement age of 65 which allows employers to use retirement at 65 as a tool for workforce planning. Employers do not have to retire employees once they reach 65. They are free to continue to employ them as long as they like, and employees are entitled to request to continue working beyond 65.

We are bringing forward the review of the default retirement age from 2011 to 2010 and have asked stakeholders to submit evidence to inform the review by 1 February. The review will consider whether the default retirement age is still appropriate and necessary and will be based on evidence that is as robust, wide-ranging and detailed as possible. As set out in Building a Society for All Ages, any changes resulting from the review would be implemented in 2011, giving businesses enough time to prepare.