§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many qualified accountants in the Civil Service are expected to retire during the next five years.
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend the Minister for the Civil Service is currently abroad. I have been asked to reply.
A precise forecast is not possible. Central statistics show that there were 130 qualified staff aged 55 or above on 1 January 1986. However, not all these staff can be expected to retire in the next five years, as in some areas staff may expect to, and often do, work beyond the age of 60.
§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made towards the Government's target number of qualified accountants in the Civil Service; and what further measures in this respect are now planned.
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend the Minister for the Civil Service is currently abroad. I have been asked to reply.
Excluding staff employed by the royal ordnance factories, who have since left the Civil Service, there were some 600 qualified accountants employed in 1982. There are now about 700, an increase of approximately 16 per cent. A number of further measures have been taken to improve the recruitment, training and retention of such staff. In particular, the number of internal trainees has significantly increased, and will grow still further with the establishment this year of a central training pool offering an additional 60 to 70 places a year. Substantial increases 140W in allowances for qualified staff have been offered this year, and very many more staff are now eligible for such allowances than in 1982.