HC Deb 14 February 1996 vol 271 cc596-7W
Mr. William O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the criteria used by his Department when assessing the medical submissions by employees who apply for payment of pension benefits because of ill health. [13566]

Mr. Malone

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive, Mr. A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. William O'Brien, dated 14 February 1996: The Secretary of State for Health has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility. The criterion for early payment of a NHS retirement pension on the grounds of ill-health is that the member must have a physical or mental infirmity that renders them permanently incapable of efficiently discharging the duties of their employment. In this context permanent means that the member will not be able to resume their previous employment before the normal retirement age of 60.