§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will investigate the reasons behind changes in the numbers of teachers retiring on the grounds of infirmity. [26723]
§ Mr. Robin SquireNo. Teachers themselves take the initiative in applying for ill health retirement. It is granted if they submit satisfactory medical evidence to the Teachers Pensions Agency. Any detailed investigation into the reasons why teachers apply for ill health retirement would require specialist medical research into the background to each case. That would be expensive and, given the average of likely causes and the diverse nature of the teaching force, would probably not reach firm conclusions.