To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for the delivery of NHS services of the proposed ban on age discrimination in such services set out in the NHS White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

Departmental officials have contributed to the Impact Assessment, and Equality Impact Assessment, which will accompany proposals to implement the ban on age discrimination, which will explore the implications of the ban for the national health service and social care. This builds on the detailed review of age in health and social care carried out in 2009, which highlighted where age discrimination may occur, and recommended some non-statutory actions.

We are committed to promoting equality, which is why, as well as implementing the recommendations from the Age Review, we will implement the ban on age discrimination in NHS and social care to take effect from 2012. Our aim is to eradicate harmful discrimination while at the same time allowing service providers to treat people of different ages differently where this is beneficial or justifiable. The Department is working with the Government Equalities Office to consider how this is best achieved in implementing the ban.