Age Concern has said it will support the government's plan to create a single equality enforcement body.

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England, will urge delegates at a London meeting of the National Council on Ageing to back the proposal to merge existing watchdogs.

Forum Response: Age Concern

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England, said: "A level playing field with all forms of discrimination must be created. For this to happen there must be a clear, comprehensive legal framework outlawing age discrimination in all walks of life as for example is the case with the Race Relations Act.

"Employment is very important but equally, the law must also apply to goods and services, health, social care and education where thousands of older people also suffer discrimination."

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Martin Green, chief executive of Counsel and Care, told ePolitix.com: "Counsel and Care supports the need for a single body to ensure there is equality across all services.

"This is particularly important in a society where ageism is rife."

Forum Response: Help the Aged

Debbie Smith, campaign manager at Help the Aged, told ePolitix.com: "A single equality body is the only way to ensure that discrimination against age is on a level playing field with all other stands of discrimination.

"Older people are a very diverse group and are therefore affected by all forms of discrimination. Age cuts across race, sex, disability, sexual orientation and religion. It is imperative that regulations being designed now take age issues into account.

"We believe the creation of a single equality body promoting equality and diversity will be a powerful lever for change, as it has proved to be in Northern Ireland.

"However, it is disappointing that the regulations only ensure protection against age discrimination within employment and training. Help the Aged urge government to reconsider and extend the regulations to cover goods and services to older people."