§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department took early retirement, and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [171865]
§ Mr. CaplinIn the financial year 2003–04, 1320 staff took early retirement (870 non-industrial staff, 160 industrial staff and 280 staff from the Trading Funds). The figures have been individually rounded to the nearest ten. The figures are for permanent staff and include Trading Funds but exclude those on career breaks, long-term sick leave, secondments etc. The figures are full-time equivalent, which is a measure of the size of the workforce that takes account of the fact that some people work part-time.
Information on the total cost of early retirement can only be provided at disproportionate cost.