§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 18 July,Official Report, columns 13–14, if he will make a further statement about the numbers of NHS staff who took early retirement. [38732]
§ Mr. SackvilleI regret that there were errors in the previous reply. The correct information is as follows:
The number of people taking early retirement age 50 and over, except those retiring because of ill-health in each of the last three years is:
- 1991–92: 2,818
- 1992–93: 3,313
- 1993–94: 5,837
National health service employers meet the full cost of paying these benefits early, including any compensation amounts. The total costs in each of the last three years are:
- 1991–92: £19,222,371
- 1992–93: £27,065,579
- 1993–94: £42,522,384
The cost of ill-health retirement is not charged to NHS employers. The number of people taking ill-health retirement in each of the last three years is:
- 1991–92: 7,323
- 1992–93: 8,327
- 1993–94: 9,520