HC Deb 19 March 1990 vol 169 c417W
Mrs. Maureen Hicks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many local authorities are offering early retirement pension schemes to teachers on the grounds of ill health or because they are surplus to requirements;

(2) what is the cost to local authorities of offering early retirement pension schemes to teachers on the grounds of ill health or because they are surplus to requirements;

(3) what is the Government's policy on teachers who have taken early retirement pensions on the grounds of ill health or because they are surplus to requirements taking paid teaching posts with other local authorities.

Mr. Alan Howarth

The Teachers' Superannuation (Consolidation) Regulations 1988 provide that a teacher before the age of 60 can receive retirement benefits if he has become incapacitated, that is, he is incapable for reason of infirmity of mind or body of serving efficiently as a teacher. Applications are made direct to this Department by individual teachers. In the financial year 1988–89, a total of 3,400 teachers in England and Wales were awarded benefits under this provision.

The regulations also provide that a teacher over 50 can receive retirement benefits prematurely where his employer has notified the Secretary of State that his pensionable employment was terminated by reason of his redundancy or in the interests of the efficient discharge of the employer's functions. In the financial year 1988–89, a total of 12,500 teachers in England and Wales received benefits under this provision.

The costs of awarding infirmity benefits are borne by the teachers' superannuation scheme; in the case of premature retirement the employer may award additional benefits. The cost of this is met by the individual employer. No central record of costs is available.

Teachers who have retired under these provisions may at a later date seek further employment. In cases where infirmity benefits were awarded, the employer is responsible for satisfying himself that the teacher is medically fit to teach. In all cases, the pension will be subject to the abatement provision and reduced or suspended according to circumstances.