Chris Ball, Chief Executive of TAEN – The Age and Employment Network, comments:

“The Chancellor’s announcement in the Budget today that the Government is consulting on the reform of the Default Retirement Age unfortunately simply confirms what we already guessed: that the Government is determined to pursue a long and drawn-out examination rather than face the inevitable. It should have made the announcement that everyone expected long ago - that the DRA will go and go quickly.

“This would then allow us to concentrate on the real issue: namely how older people can remain active and in work as long as they wish, and need to do so, and how employers can re-shape workplaces, working time and job roles to make staying on beyond State Pension Age an attractive and natural option for everyone.

“By trudging on with this review at this stage in the Parliament, the Government is sadly missing a chance to effectively address the challenges of an ageing society.”