§ Dr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will lift the restriction on voluntary premature retirement for staff under 60 years; what is the present permissible level of voluntary premature retirements for 1981–82; and how many people are expected to apply in his Department's employment in the Plymouth area.
§ Mr. SpeedVoluntary premature retirement schemes in the Ministry of Defence apply to staff below the age of 60 in certain grades, specialisations and locations where there are surpluses. In practice, older applicants are given preference as they are nearer to retirement age: the overall costs of the schemes are thereby reduced.
It is too early to say whether voluntary premature retirement will be necessary in MOD during 1981–82 and thus whether any MOD staff in the Plymouth area will be invited to apply during the year.