HC Deb 22 November 1978 vol 958 cc606-7W
Mr. George Rodgers

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many young teachers have to date secured employment which has been made available through the early retirement scheme.

Mr. Oakes

My Department has so far authorised 890 applications for accrued superannuation benefits as a result of premature retirement. Some 60 per cent. of these were on grounds of redundancy which left no vacancy to be filled. The remaining 40 per cent. were in the structural interests of the education service and it is presumed that the intention was to introduce younger teachers, but detailed information as to how the resultant vacancies have been filled is not available.