§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he has taken to encourage retired school teachers to return to work. [139435]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe have introduced a number of measures to make it more attractive to retired teachers to undertake further teaching service. Teachers who have retired are now able to undertake substantial periods of re-employment within any financial year without affecting their pension. The pensions of those teachers who have retired with actuarially reduced benefits are unaffected by any re-employment. We have also made it possible for all retired teachers who return to either full-time or part-time teaching to elect to re-join the Teachers' Pension Scheme and accrue additional retirement benefit entitlement.