My Lords, the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 implemented a European directive which outlawed age discrimination in employment and adult education. However, the regulations introduced a national default retirement age as an exception to the general principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of age. This means that it is lawful for employers to operate a mandatory retirement age of 65, in effect getting rid of people automatically just because they are deemed to be too old to do a job. There is provision for an appeal, but the effect remains that if an employer wishes to terminate someone’s employment at 65, normally it will happen.