AGE CONCERN’S RESPONSE TO DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS FIGURES ON THE PATHWAYS TO WORK INITIATIVE

5 May 2006

Age Concern England Director-General, Gordon Lishman, said:

"While we welcome the Pathways to Work initiative, early indications show that it is much less effective for people over 50, compared to other age groups.

"Ensuring older people are helped back to work is vital for the health of the economy.  Older people have a huge contribution to make. Yet almost a million people over 50 do not work who want to, at a cost to the UK economy of around £30 billion each year.

"It's important, however, that the requirements placed on people to find employment are flexible enough to take account of individual health needs, as older people who are genuinely unable to take part in this employment scheme, must not be penalised."