Teachers (Early Retirement)

HC Deb 12 July 1985 vol 82 cc539-40W

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers have taken early retirement in the last five years.

Mr. Dunn

Under the Teachers Superannuation Regulations 1976 (as amended) the minimum retirement age is normally 60. Teachers may retire earlier on grounds of infirmity or, for those between age 50 and 60, if the employer certifies that the teacher's service has been terminated by reason of redundancy or in the interests of the efficient discharge of the employer's functions. The numbers of retirements below age 60 in each of the past five years are as follows:

	Infirmity	Other Premature	Total
1980–81	1,354	4,301	5,655
1981–82	1,509	6,341	7,850
1982–83	1,859	6,997	8,856
1983–84	2,068	7,409	9,477
1984–85	2,445	9,175	11,620