§ Mr. William Rossasked the Prime Minister how many civil servants have taken advantage of early retirement at 55 years up to the end of 1982; and what is the estimated cost in pensions for the current financial year and the next two financial years.
§ The Prime MinisterThe normal retirement age in the Civil Service is 60. Retirement at age 55 is not generally available, although limited voluntary early retirement schemes have been introduced from time to time under which civil servants may retire at various ages. Under the most recent schemes, approximately 800 non-industrial civil servants left in 1980–81. The average cost of their pensions at that time was £3,400 per annum.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Prime Minister how many new employees will be needed in the Civil Service in 1982–83 and each of the two succeeding financial years as a result of (a) retirement at 60 years, (b) early retirement at 55 years and (c) early retirment at 53 years.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not possible to estimate the number of new employees who will be required in the Civil Service between 1982 and 1985. We have declared our intention of achieving significant manpower reductions in the Civil Service and these reductions will be achieved by natural wastage wherever possible. We expect that 13,000 non-industrial civil servants will reach age 60 in 1982–83, 11,800 in 1983–84 and 11,100 in 1984–85—comparable figures for the industrial grades are not held centrally. However, not all those reaching age 60 will retire and not all of those who do will be replaced. It is not possible to estimate the number of civil servants who will retire before reaching age 60.