HC Deb 20 May 2002 vol 386 cc21-2W
Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many claims for work-related injury or illness were settled on behalf of(a) teachers in primary and secondary schools and (b) other school staff in the last year for which figures are available; and what the total cost in compensation was. [56057]

Mr. Timms

Claims for work-related injury or illness are matters between individuals and their employers. Teachers and other staff in schools are employed by either the Local Education Authority or the School Governing Body, and consequently such matters are dealt with at a local level. No data are held centrally by the Department about either the number of claims or the cost of compensation payments.

Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) teachers in primary and secondary schools and (b) other staff in those schools retired through work-related injury or ill health in the last year for which records are available; and what the total cost to the Department was. [56058]

Mr. Timms

Entitlement to ill health retirement under the Teachers' Pensions Scheme (TPS) is determined by the severity of a teacher's medical condition. Where the medical evidence demonstrates that the teacher is permanently unfit to teach, irrespective of the cause of the medical condition, retirement benefits become due. Information is not held on whether the medical condition giving rise to ill health retirement is attributable, in whole or in part, to a work-related injury or illness.

Non-teaching staff in schools are subject to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which is the responsibility of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Consequently, no data are held by my Department about the number of teachers, or other staff in schools, who retired through work-related injury or ill health.

Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many claims for work-related illness were settled by her Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost in compensation was. [56054]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

During the period April 2001 to March 2002 three cases for work-related illness reached final settlement at a cost of £20,318 including solicitors' fees. During the same period the Department received £3,280 back from a previous case where a claimant lost an appeal.