AS more and more people live longer, 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 treatment solely on the grounds of age. Most of us know older workers who have experienced difficulty getting or retraining for a job.

To help combat this serious problem, an important Bill receives its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday. 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 of Retired Persons Over 50 (APR/O50) and Help the Aged. The next step is for MPs throughout the UK to vote for the Bill.

We are calling on Independent readers to help get this Bill passed into law by writing to local MPs Stephen Twigg, Joab Ryan and Andy Love to urge their positive vote. No-one should suffer economic or social exclusion or be denied the provision of goods and services on the ground of age.

TONY SEAGROAT,

Chief Officer,

Age Concern Enfield,

Knights Lane,

Edmonton.