§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the retirement ages that apply to the employees of his Department and its agencies, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on flexible retirement. [32821]
55W
§ Angela EagleThe normal retirement age for non-industrial staff is 60, and for industrial staff 65. However, the Home Office's age retirement policy has recently been reviewed and from 1 April 2002 non-industrial staff up to Grade six will have the option to remain beyond the age of 60 and to retire at any point between the ages of 60 and 65. A temporary relaxation to the normal retirement age of 60 is currently in force until 31 March 2002 for grades between Administrative Assistant and Executive Officer (including equivalent grades, except certain Prison Service specific grades). Staff at Higher Executive Officer and above can also apply for extensions of service subject to business needs.
A variation to this policy is applied in the Prison Service where pre "fresh-start" Prison Officers employed before 1987 retire at 55, and Operational Support Grades retire at 65. A formal review of age retirement policy is now taking place within the Prison Service.
The number of staff affected in each of these categories is set out in the table.
Category Retirement age Number of staff Non-industrial 60 32,002 Industrial 65 2,997 Operational Support Grades 65 6,475 Prison Officers 60 16,461 Prison Officers1 55 6,721 1 Pre "Fresh Start"