Plans to scrap retirement age gain support

Calls for the government to scrap the default retirement age have found support in the trade.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) made the plea after Office for National Statistics research found that 1.4 million people in the UK work beyond the age of 65.

Chris Smith, the 68-year-old licensee at the Gate Inn in Marshide, Kent, has given his support to the move.

"In my opinion work is the best thing to do at my age. I'm big, healthy, strong and hairy, and I like running a pub. I do it because I want to," he said.

A survey conducted by the FSB found that 60 per cent of small businesses do not think the government should set a default retirement age.

Nearly 80 per cent of survey respondents said they did not use the default retirement age for their staff and a quarter employed staff aged over 65.

And nine out of 10 small businesses also said they would be prepared to discuss flexible working or fewer hours for those reaching retirement age.

John Wright, the FSB's national chairman, said: "Many small business owners have no intention of putting in place a blanket policy to retire their staff at 65 - they understand the valuable contribution and skills that older workers bring to the business."

The government is proposing to bring forward a review on retirement age. Harriet Harman has called the retirement age "arbitrary" and suggested a "massive policy change" was in the offing.

As the law stands woman can be made redundant without pay at 60 and men at 65.