Retirements and Redundancies (Hansard, 25 May 1995)

§ Ms Hodge
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff of(a) the Scottish Office and (b) agencies for which the Scottish Office is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy, (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (1) 1993–94 and (2) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25503]

§ Mr. Lang
The information requested is set out in the table below. Staff numbers for the Scottish Prison Service are shown separately.

Projected

1993–94 1994–95 1995–96

(a) The Scottish Office

(i) Early retirement 35 30 25

(ii) Voluntary redundancy 47 144 100–200

(iii) Compulsory redundancy — — —

(iv) Medical grounds 26 19 20

(b) Agencies

(i) Early retirement 3 4 2

(ii) Voluntary redundancy 3 12 6

(iii) Compulsory Redundancy 1 — 1

(iv) Medical grounds 3 31 6

(c) Scottish Prison Agency

(i) Early retirement 50 160 150

(ii) Voluntary redundancy 3 3 ¹—

(iii) Compulsory Redundancy — — —

(iv) Medical grounds 80 60 60

¹ None expected.

§ Ms Hodge
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual cost to his Department of staff leaving under redundancy/early retirement schemes to incorporate (i) added years lump sum payments, (ii) redundancy payments, (iii) pension payments, including enhancements and (iv) any other special arrangements for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) projected for 1995–96 and (d) projected for 1996–97. [25470]

§ Mr. Lang
The costs to the Department of early retirement and redundancies are borne from the Department's running costs provision.
A detailed breakdown of the various costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The total costs borne on the Scottish Office running costs in 1993–94 and 1994–95 were £900,000 and £1.5 million respectively. For 1995–96 the amount is estimated at £1.6 million.
For the Scottish Prison Service the total costs borne in 1993–94 and 1994–95 were £900,000 in each year and for 1995–96 the amount is estimated at £800,000.
Projections for 1996–97 will be determined during the coming public expenditure survey.

Projected
	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
(a) The Scottish Office
(i) Early retirement	35	30	25
(ii) Voluntary redundancy	47	144	100–200
(iii) Compulsory redundancy	—	—	—
(iv) Medical grounds	26	19	20
(b) Agencies
(i) Early retirement	3	4	2
(ii) Voluntary redundancy	3	12	6
(iii) Compulsory Redundancy	1	—	1
(iv) Medical grounds	3	31	6
(c) Scottish Prison Agency
(i) Early retirement	50	160	150
(ii) Voluntary redundancy	3	3	¹—
(iii) Compulsory Redundancy	—	—	—
(iv) Medical grounds	80	60	60
¹ None expected.