§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons were retired prematurely as a result of local government reorganisation in (a) Norfolk and (b) England and Wales; and in each case what was the total amount paid out in voluntary retirement.
§ Mr. OakesThe decision whether to retire early under the relevant provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 is essentially a matter between an officer and his employing authority. Details of198W the numbers who have done so are not available within my Department but information reaching the Local Government Staff Commissions for England and Wales suggests that some 3,400 officers retired early and that, of these, approximately 60 were employed by local authorities in Norfolk. I regret that figures of amounts paid are not available.