HC Deb 10 May 1982 vol 23 c169W
Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Prime Minister what principles govern the decision as to whether permanent secretaries should retire at the age of 60 years or be retained in service.

The Prime Minister

Permanent secretaries, with the exception of the Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor, where special arrangements apply, retire, as do other staff in the Open Structure, at the end of the month in which they reach the age of 60 years. In exceptional cases where there is advantage to the public service, they may be retained for a limited period.