§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers, in each local education authority in England and Wales, in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 took early retirement on (i) medical grounds and (ii) as a result of voluntary early retirement schemes. [153294]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 12 March 2001]: There were 14,300 ill-health and premature retirements in 1995–96. This figure rose to 16,100 in 1996–97, was 16,300 in 1997–98 before declining to 5,100 in 1998–99 and was 5,400 in 1999–2000. The high level of retirements in 1996–97 and 1997–98 were due to teachers anticipating changes that were made to the Teachers Pension Scheme in 1997, which resulted in the decline from 1998–99 onwards.
Figures of local authority ill-health and premature retirements from the maintained schools sector are contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.