HC Deb 20 July 2004 vol 424 c164W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have retired from dentistry in each year since 1997 for which figures are available. [180640]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The available information in the table is from the National Health Service Pensions Agency for the number of pensions awarded in England and Wales where a NHS pension has been claimed prior to the scheme's normal retirement age and at the scheme's normal retirement age. These will include pensions paid on the grounds of ill health, premature retirements following redundancy and voluntary early retirement before age 60 (introduced from 6 March 1995).

All dentists' retirements
Total dentist pension awards
1997 359
1998 333
1999 322
2000 314
2001 363
2002 375
2003 363