§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees in his Department took early retirement, and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [172194]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien46 employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office took early retirement during the 2003–04 financial year at an initial cash cost of £1,385,153. Ongoing payments to employees who retired before 2003–04 amounted to a further £2,026,971.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office accounts for 2003–04 have not yet been finalised and may therefore be subject to revision. The published accounts will be expressed in resource rather than cash terms.