HC Deb 22 January 1997 vol 288 cc623-5W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice she has issued to the Funding Agency for Schools in respect of the proposed changes to the early retirement provisions in the teachers's superannuation arrangements. [12072]

Mrs. Gillan

The Funding Agency for Schools has received a copy of the Department's consultation letter of 22 October on this matter. Advice on these changes was also set out in the annual grant letter to the agency, setting out the planned funding for the grant-maintained sector in 1997–98 and beyond. A copy of that letter was placed in the Library on 28 November 1996.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those who have responded to her consultation document on the proposed changes in the teachers pension fund. [11959]

Mrs. Gillan

My right hon. Friend has so far received written representations from 33 consultees in respect of the proposed changes to early retirement provisions for teachers. They are listed in the table.

List of consultees who have submitted written representations to the Secretary of State in respect of proposed changes to the TSS

  • Association of Colleges
  • Association for College Management
  • Association of GM and Aided Schools
  • Association of Headteachers of GM Schools
  • Association of Teachers and Lecturers
  • Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals
  • Free Church Federal Council—Education Committee
  • Further Education Funding Council
  • Girls Public Day School Trust
  • GM Schools Advisory Committee
  • Governing Bodies of Girls' Schools Association
  • Governing Bodies' Association
  • Headmasters' Conference
  • Higher Education Funding Council for England
  • Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools
  • Independent Schools Association
  • Independent Schools Bursars' Association
  • Independent Schools Joint Council
  • National Association of Head Teachers
  • National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers
  • National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education
  • National Governors Council
  • National Union of Teachers
  • Professional Association of Teachers
  • Secondary Heads Association
  • Sixth Form Colleges Employers' Forum
  • Society of Education Officers
  • Teacher Training Agency
  • Teachers' Superannuation Working Party
  • Universities and Colleges Employers Association
  • Welsh Local Government Association
  • Welsh Office
  • Workers' Educational Association

Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of teachers in Devon who have taken early retirement; and what percentage did so on the grounds of ill health, in each of the past five years. [12009]

Mrs. Gillan

The following table shows the information for teachers taking early retirement from the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sector in Devon.

Financial year Number of early retirements1 Percentage retiring on ill-health grounds
1991–92 167 47
1992–93 196 42
1993–94 243 40
1994–95 216 54
1995–96 300 34
(provisional)
1 Excludes those last recorded as in sixth form colleges.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidance the Funding Agency for Schools has issued to head teachers of grant-maintained schools in respect of premature retirements in 1997–98 and beyond; [12073]

(2) what estimate has been made of the resources available to the Funding Agency for Schools to fund the cost of premature retirements following changes to the regulations. [12074]

Mrs. Gillan

The Funding Agency for Schools will offer assistance towards the cost of premature retirement in GM schools in 1997–98 and beyond on a case by case basis, according to criteria set by the agency, from within the total allocation set aside for special purpose grants. It is for the Agency to determine what advice and financial assistance is made available to GM schools in respect of premature retirements having regard to the proposed changes in the regulations. I have asked the chairman of the Funding Agency for Schools to write to the hon. Member with this information.

Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place copies of the responses to her consultation document on teachers pension fund in the Library. [11960]

Mrs. Gillan

I will place copies of the responses from consultees to our proposals for the reform of early retirement arrangements for the teachers' superannuation scheme in the Library, except for any where the consultee has asked for the response to remain confidential.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total number of teachers who have retired before the age of 60 years for reasons of health or disability during the last four years. [11850]

Mrs. Gillan

The numbers of teachers who have retired on grounds of ill health before the age 60 in each of the last four years is given in the table.

Year Number of retirees
1992–93 4,900
1993–94 5,730
1994–95 6,303
1995–96 5,980