§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 200, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on grounds of inefficiency. [29286]
§ Mr. FreemanInefficiency is a ground for dismissal. Early retirement packages are not offered to staff leaving the Department on the grounds of inefficiency, although an immediate lump payment of up to two years' salary may be made where the Department judges that the payment of compensation is appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over the age of 55, this may be forgone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age.