§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what applications have been received from personnel in his Department for permission to transfer to the private sector on retirement.
§ Mr. AitkenBetween 300 and 600 applications seeking permission to take up employment in the private sector are made by crown servants in my Department each year. These represent all applications required under the business appointment rules, in respect of crown servants who retire, resign or are made redundant from crown service. In 1992, of 403 applications made under these rules, 364 were submitted because the applicant had retired.