AS more and more people live longer and healthier lives, a 65th birthday should not be considered a "best before date."

Yet every day, older people are being discriminated against in areas including employment and health, and other services and products.

Too often we hear of people being denied medical treatments on the grounds of age. Most of us know older workers who have experienced difficulty getting or retaining a job. The list goes on.

To help combat this, an important Bill receives its second reading in the House of Commons on November 23.

It proposes setting up an Age Equality Commission to monitor existing and future legislation and to advise business, public and voluntary sectors on issues relating to age discrimination.

It is jointly supported by Age Concern England, the Association Retired Persons over 50 and Help the Aged, and the next step is for MPs throughout the UK to vote for the Bill.

We are calling on Gazette readers to help get this Bill passed into law, by writing to MP Michael Ancram to urge his positive vote.

LIDDY DAVIDSON

Director, Age Concern, Devizes