HC Deb 24 May 1995 vol 260 cc612-3W
Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff of(a) the Department for Education and (b) agencies for which the Department for Education is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy, (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (1) 1993–94 and (2) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25505]

Mr. Boswell

Information on DFE staff working in the Teachers' Pensions Agency cannot be separately identified from the Department as a whole without disproportionate cost.

During 1993–94, a total of 45 staff took early retirement and 10 retired on medical grounds.

In 1994–95, 20 staff took early retirement and 11 were retired on medical grounds.

There were no redundancies during either of these years. None are planned for 1995–96, though the Department keeps its staffing requirements under constant review.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the annual cost to the Department of staff leaving under redundancy/early retirement schemes to incorporate (i) added years lump sum payments, (ii) redundancy payments, (iii) pension payments including enhancements and (iv) any other special arrangements for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, and projected for (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97. [25643]

Mr. Boswell

The costs to the Department of early retirement and redundancies are borne from the Department's running costs provision.

A detailed breakdown of the various costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The total costs borne on the Department's running costs in 1993–94 and 1994–95 were £4.9 million and £2.8 million respectively. For 1995–96, the amount is estimated not to exceed £2.4 million. Projections for 1996–97 will be determined during the coming Public Expenditure Survey.