§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the age of retirement in the Civil Service; and to what extent(a) policy and (b) the guidelines issued vary between Departments. [31107]
§ Dr. David ClarkThe minimum retirement age for civil servants (i.e. the earliest age at which they can retire with full superannuation benefits) is 60 and staff have a right to retire then. However, government departments and agencies are free to set the normal retirement age for their own staff (i.e. the age at which they have to retire). This can be above 60. Departments and agencies must ensure that they apply their policy consistently to all staff at broadly the same level and they must be satisfied that staff retained beyond age 60 meet the normal standards of health and efficiency. In making such decisions, they will take into account all relevant factors such as the needs of management, present availability of staff and projected staffing requirements.
This policy is set out in Section 11.3 of the Civil Service Management Code, which sets the regulations and instructions to all departments and agencies regarding the terms and conditions of service of civil servants. Since departments and agencies can determine their own age retirement policies, some variation may occur, but must remain consistent with the Code.