§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have taken early retirement through ill health in each of the past five years. [52540]
§ Mr. TimmsThe numbers of ill health retirements from the maintained schools sector in England in each of the last five financial years for which we have data were as follows:
Number 1996–97 4,980 1997–98 3,300 1998–99 2,320 1999–2000 2,350 2000–01 1 2,610 1 2000–01 data are provisional. Note:
Changes in the statutory regulations governing ill health retirement came into force on 1 April 1997. To qualify for ill-health retirement benefits a teacher must now be regarded as permanently unfit to teach.