§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the number of teachers likely to apply for early retirement in 1996–97 and 1997–98 in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [7181]
§ Mrs. GillanNone. The Department collects data on the number of premature retirements granted by teachers' employers, but not on the number of applications made by teachers to their employers. Premature retirement is at the discretion of the employer.
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§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers have accepted early retirement in each of the last five years. [7178]
§ Mrs. GillanThe following table shows the numbers of teachers who have been granted premature and ill health retirement in EnglandandWales from1991–92 to 1995–96.
1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 Infirmity Maintained nursery and primary 2,167 2,117 2,347 2,668 2,505 Maintained secondary 1,581 1,689 2,154 2,225 2,112 Total 3,748 3,806 4,501 4,893 4,617 Premature Maintained nursery and primary 3,199 3,356 3,472 3,443 3,794 Maintained secondary 3,477 3,883 4,633 3,780 4,745 Total 6,676 7,239 8,105 7,223 8,539 Total Maintained nursery and primary 5,366 5,473 5,819 6,111 6,299 Maintained secondary 5,058 5,572 6,787 6,005 6,857 Total 10,424 11,045 12,606 12,116 13,156 The secondary sector does not include sixth form colleges throughout.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the impact on(a) class sizes and (b) school budgets of the proposed changes to the early retirement provisions for teachers; and if she will make a statement. [7104]
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the estimated salary costs to school budgets from the withdrawal of the premature retirement scheme for teachers. [7261]
§ Mrs. GillanMy right hon. Friend does not expect these proposals to alter the overall size of the teaching force, and she does not expect them to affect class sizes. The local government finance settlement allows for the effect of the proposals, so that the effect on school budgets will be broadly neutral.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received in respect of the proposed changes to early retirement provisions for teachers. [7100]
§ Mrs. GillanIn the last few weeks my right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations in respect614W of the proposed changes to early retirement provisions for teachers.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will reject the proposal to transfer funding of early retirement pensions contributions for teachers to schools; and if she will make a statement. [7102]
§ Mrs. GillanThe proposals have been issued for consultation, with a closing date for responses of 17 January 1997. My right hon. Friend will take final decisions after that date.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements govern the contributions to the cost of the early retirement of teachers by teachers' employers; and if she will make a statement. [7101]
Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the future of the teachers' premature retirement scheme. [7263]
§ Mrs. GillanUnder current arrangements, the cost of early retirement for teachers is met by employers' contributions to the teachers' superannuation scheme, so that all employers pay for premature retirement at the same rate, irrespective of the rate at which they grant premature retirement. Under the proposed arrangements, employers will pay only for those premature retirements that they have granted, and will do so as and when they grant them.
Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she last met teacher representatives to discuss the premature retirement scheme; and if she will make a statement. [7262]
§ Mrs. GillanMy right hon. Friend has not met teacher representatives to discuss the premature retirement arrangements for teachers.
Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the non-financial consequences for older teachers of the withdrawal of the premature retirement scheme; and if she will make a statement. [7256]
§ Mrs. GillanNone. The premature retirement scheme for teachers is not being withdrawn.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations she has received from teaching unions regarding early retirement amongst teachers. [6960]
§ Mrs. GillanIn the last few weeks my right hon. Friend has received a number of written representations from teachers' unions regarding early retirement amongst teachers.