Hundreds lobby for age equality

Help the Aged said that despite the Government's commitment to tackling the problem, there were still instances of age discrimination in goods, facilities and services.

The charity said it had uncovered examples of older people being denied bank loans and accounts, travel insurance, health services and being made fun of in advertising.

Senior policy manager Kate Jopling said: "Older people want equal treatment and they expect their government to take action on age discrimination."

Help the Aged said it wanted the government to ban age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services and a positive duty on public bodies to promote age equality.

Equalities Minister Meg Munn said: "The government is strongly committed to tackling age discrimination in all walks of life.

"We have prohibited it in employment and vocational training and are tackling it further in the provision of public services - for example, through the National Service Framework for Older People which has an explicit focus on tackling age discrimination in service delivery. The Discrimination Law Review will shortly be consulting on whether further steps are necessary."

Help the Aged said that legislation which banned age discrimination in employment and training from last October did not affect people as soon as they left work

Actress Sylvia Syms will tell the lobby: "Age discrimination impacts on us all, as old age happens to us all.

"Just as we've seen great movements in race and gender equality in our life time, now it is time to stand up against age discrimination. Everyone deserves to be treated equally and with respect regardless of age."