Retirement (Change of Occupation)

HC Deb 14 January 1976 vol 903 cc172-3W

Mr. Spearing

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) if he will list in the Official Report the names and positions of administrative grade civil servants who resigned from the service prior to normal retirement age to take up positions outside the public service since 1970, together with the positions taken up, stating if permission was granted in each case;

(2) if he will tabulate in the Official Report the numbers of administrative grade civil servants who retired to take appointments outside the public service in each of the years 1960 to 1975, showing for each year the number who received permission for such changes under the provisions of Estacode.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

A copy of the rules governing these matters was deposited in the Library when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave a Written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 3rd July 1975. Under these rules civil servants require to seek permission to accept appointments only with firms or organisations in contractual or other special relationship with the Government. Most cases can be dealt with by the Departments concerned without consultation with the Civil Service Department. The only records readily available are those of cases in which the Civil Service Department has to be consulted.

The figures of the grants of permission to civil servants of Under-Secretary rank and above, including those with specialist qualifications, are as follows:

Table I.—Cases where permission was granted to take up outside appointments 1960–1975
1960	…	…	…	…	6
1961	…	…	…	…	7
1962	…	…	…	…	2
1963	…	…	…	…	7
1964	…	…	…	…	5
1965	…	…	…	…	6
1966	…	…	…	…	1
1967	…	…	…	…	6
1968	…	…	…	…	8
1969	…	…	…	…	9
1970	…	…	…	…	10
1971	…	…	…	…	13
1972	…	…	…	…	7
1973	…	…	…	…	12
1974	…	…	…	…	9
1975	…	…	…	…	13

Table II.—Cases where permission was granted to take up outside appointments following Resignation 1.1.1971 to date
1972	…	…	…	…	1
1973	…	…	…	…	2
1974	…	…	…	…	2
1975	…	…	…	…	1

Note: It is not known in how many cases the proposed appointment was actually taken up.