SIR

The 1st October was a significant day for older people – it was the UN International Day of Older Persons and UK Older People's Day.

It was also the day that the UK Government's first ban on age discrimination in goods, services and facilities came into force.

Age discrimination is one of the most widespread forms of discrimination in the UK and is at the heart of much of the poor treatment experienced by older people.

Too often people receive inferior services, pay higher prices for goods, or simply cannot access the goods or services they need at all because of their age.

Age Alliance Wales and it's members broadly welcome this ban as a step forward in the eventual outlawing of age discrimination in all its shapes and forms.

The ban will affect public and private organisations and means that treating people differently because of their age when providing most goods, facilities or services will be unlawful.

However, the wide exception to the ban that the UK Government has granted to the financial services industry is very disappointing.

It means that older people can, for example, still be discriminated against because of their age when they try to obtain insurance or banking services.

We know that ageism in financial services causes worry and distress for many older people, limiting their choices and increasing costs.

This is why we must continue to press for financial services to be subject to the ban and urge the UK Government to keep the impact of this exception under close scrutiny.

Ultimately, society must value older people more and appreciate their talents and the contribution they make, and not just get fixated about their date of birth.

Robert Taylor OBE

(Chair of Age Alliance Wales and Chief Executive of Age Cymru)