§ Lord Dixon-Smithasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many man-years of service are currently unavailable due to police officers taking early retirement; and what are the comparable figures for 1996 and 1991. [HL931]
§ Lord RookerThese figures are not centrally available.
174WAIt is recognised that levels of early retirements due to ill health are too high. Figures have fallen over the last five years but remain at unacceptable levels in certain forces. The Home Office has asked the Police Negotiating Board to explore and agree ways to deliver a fair and more consistent approach towards early retirement due to ill health, so that forces can match the performance of the best quartile by 2005. We also hope to introduce a national occupational health strategy for the police service which should assist forces to manage cases of ill-health more effectively at the outset.
§ Lord Dixon-Smithasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many man-years of service would be gained by the police service in England and Wales if the normal retirement age was 60 instead of after 30 years' service. [HL932]
§ Lord RookerThe figures requested are not centrally available.
The Police Pensions Review of March 1998 gave consideration to increasing normal retirement age to 60 and concluded that it was not a feasible option. Representatives of force medical officers told the review that very few officers beyond 55 years of age could be expected to be fit enough to perform the range of duties required of constables and sergeants. However, as part of the police reform programme we have asked the Police Negotiating Board to explore and agree flexible arrangements that give managers in the police service the scope to retain officers beyond 30 years where they wish to be of further use to the service.