§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff left the service of her Department and its agencies in the year ended 31 March 2001; how many left before attaining the formal retirement age of 60 years; and in respect of how many her Department and its agencies assumed responsibilities for making payments until retirement age. [37554]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisFor information on staff that have left the Department during the year ended 31 March 2001, and on how many left before the age of 60, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office today. This Department has assumed responsibility for making payments until retirement age for 143 staff who left the DfEE and its agencies in the year ended 31 March 2001.