HC Deb 08 May 2002 vol 385 cc192-4W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the retirement ages that apply to the employees of her Department and its agencies, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on flexible retirement. [32831]

Ms Hewitt

[pursuant to her reply, 6 February 2002, c. 973W]: Unfortunately due to an administrative oversight the replies from the chief executive to the agencies were not given as part of my answer. These now follow.

Letter from Barry Maxwell to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 8 May 2002: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your Parliamentary Question, for a list of the retirement ages that apply to the employees of her Department and its Agencies. I am sorry you have had to wait so long for a reply, but can now say that the retirement ages for Agency staff are the same as that of the DTI.

Letter from Dr. J. W. Llewellyn to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 8 May 2002: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question about the retirement ages that apply to the employees of NWML, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and the Agency's policy on flexible retirement. The normal retirement age in NWML is 65 for staff in Band A (covering administrative and support staff). For all other staff (covering staff at range 5 and above) the retirement age is 60. At 1 April 2001 there were 14 staff in Band A and 45 staff above this level. Flexible retirement is considered on a case by case basis under certain criteria laid down by the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Letter from John Holden to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 8 May 2002: I refer to your Parliamentary Question 2001/2571. I have been asked to reply for Companies House. The retirement age for ranges 1–4 is 65, range 5 and above 60. We have 893 staff in ranges 1–4 and 293 in range 5 and above.

Letter, from Roger Heathcote to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 8 May 2002: You tabled a Parliamentary Question on 31 January 2002 to Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, asking if she will list the retirement ages that apply to the employees of her Department and its agencies, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on flexible retirement. I have been asked to reply in respect of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS), which is an executive agency of the DTI. The normal retirement age in my agency is 65 years for staff in Band A (covering administrative and support staff). For all other staff (covering staff at range 5—formerly Executive Officer level—and above) the retirement age is 60 years. At 1 April 2001 there were 559 staff in Band A and 150 staff above this level.

Letter from Peter Bentley to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 8 May 2002: I am replying on behalf of the Small Business Service, since our Chief Executive, David Irwin, completed his secondment to SBS on 28 March and our new Chief Executive, Martin Wyn Griffith, does not start until 15 April. The normal retirement age in the Small Business Service is 65 for staff in Band A (covering administrative and support staff). For all other staff (covering staff at range 5—formerly Executive Officer level—and above) the retirement age is 60. At 1 April 2002 there were 61 staff in Band A and 213 staff above this level. Please note that staff in the SBS Regional teams work to Government Office terms and conditions and they adhere to the same Retirement policy as their Parent Department. SBS Regional Teams have 37 staff at Band A and 99 Staff above this level.

Letter from Alison Brimelow to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 8 May 2002: I am replying on behalf of the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question 2571 to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry relating to retirement ages and policy on flexible retirement. The normal retirement age in the Patent Office is 65 in Band A (covering administrative and support staff). For all other staff (covering staff at B1 formerly Executive Officer level—and above) the retirement age is 60. At 1 April 2001 there were 353 staff in Band A and 566 staff above this level. Flexible retirement is considered on a case by case basis under the criteria laid down by the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 8 May 2002: The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question on the retirement ages that apply to the employees in The Insolvency Service, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each. The Insolvency Service does not have delegated authority for retirement policy and so the guidelines are the same as that of the Department of Trade and Industry. The notional retirement age for staff in Band A (administrative and support staff) is 65. For all other staff in Band B and above (formerly Executive Officer level and above) the retirement age is 60. The number of permanent staff in post in The Insolvency Service at 1 April 2001 was 1303 (full time equivalent); of which 580 staff are in Band A and 723 are in Band B and above. Flexible retirement is considered on a case by case basis under the criteria laid down by the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.