§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching staff are still in employment after the age of 60 in each local authority; and what percentage of the total teaching work force this accounts for. [114940]
§ Mr. Miliband[holding answer 21 May 2003]: A table showing showing full and part-time regular qualified teachers aged 60 or over who were in service in the maintained schools sector and the percentage of the total workforce they represent as at March 2001 has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average rate of increase paid to classroom teachers was for each of the last 10 years. [114951]
§ Mr. Miliband[holding answer 21 May 2003]: The following table shows the average salary and the percentage increase in the average salary for full-time regular classroom teachers in the maintained schools sector in England and Wales as at 31 March in each of the years shown. The average salary includes all allowances paid.
235W
£ Average salary Percentage increase1 1990 14,800 — 1991 16,400 10.7 1992 18,400 12.0 1993 19,800 7.9 1994 20,100 1.3 1995 20,600 2.4 1996 21,100 2.3
£ Average salary Percentage increase1 1997 21,700 3.3 1998 22,300 2.7 1999 23,200 3.8 2000 24,000 3.5 20012,3 25,500 6.5 1 Based on unrounded figures. 2 Data for 2001 are provisional and are the latest available. 3 The 2001 average salary figures include threshold pay increases that were made before March 2001. However, they do not include threshold pay increases relating to people who passed the threshold in September 2000 and had not received their payment by March 2001. This money was backdated after March 2001 and therefore the average salary for March 2001 will be understated. Source:
Database of teacher records
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many peripatetic music teachers there are per 1,000 school pupils. [115024]
§ Mr. MilibandThis information is not collected centrally.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the level of support a teachers pension provides for retirement; and what plans he has to increase teachers pensions levels of support. [115125]
§ Mr. MilibandThe Teachers Pension Scheme is a final salary scheme that provides retirement benefits based on 1/80 of salary for each year of pensionable service. The normal pension age is currently 60. Pensions in payment are up-rated each year in line with movements in the Retail Prices index. In addition a tax free lump sum equivalent to three years pension is payable on retirement. Arrangements also exist for the early payment of benefits on the grounds of permanent ill health. Teachers pay a contribution of 6 per cent. of salary and their employers contribute a further 13.5 per cent. of salary towards the cost of the Teachers Pension Scheme.
The provisions of the Teachers Pension Scheme are currently under review in the light of the proposals contained in the Pensions Green Paper Security, Simplicity and Choice and the Inland Revenue consultation on simplifying the taxation of pensions. Any changes to the scheme will be subject to full consultation with representatives of teacher and employer associations and other interested parties.