§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to reduce the number of workers in the public sector taking early retirement on the ground of stress; and if he will make a statement. [102399]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithIn August this year my predecessor announced that he had set up a wide ranging review into the level of ill health retirement in the public sector. The terms of reference for the review are
To review the factors leading to ill health retirement, including why its incidence is much higher in some parts of the public sector and in some employing authorities than others;To identify best practice both in the management of pension scheme provisions and the operation of relevant human resource policies; andTo make recommendations to Ministers on the implementation of measures to spread best practice and to ensure the appropriate use of ill health retirement benefits.The contribution which stress related illness makes to the level of ill health retirement, and the measures which might be taken to reduce its incidence, is being considered in the review.
The review is due to report early in 2000.