§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) set retirement age applying to all or most personnel and (b) maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered is in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies. [186375]
§ Fiona MactaggartThe Civil Service Management Code gives departments and agencies the authority to determine policy on normal retirement age for their own staff subject to the conditions set out in Chapter 11.3.
In answer to part 'A' of your question all non-industrial Home Office staff working in grades between Administrative Assistant and Grade 6, including equivalent grades will have the option to retire at any point between the ages of 60 and 65. The normal retirement age for the Senior Civil Service is 60. However, Heads of Departments and Agency Chief Executives have the flexibility to retain members of the
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§ Paul GogginsHer Majesty's Prison Bronzefield opened on 17 June 2004 and 135 Prison Custody Officers have been certificated.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Prison Custody Officer certificates have been withdrawn by his Department for each privately run prison in each month since 1 January 2003. [187103]
§ Paul GogginsFrom January 2003 to March 2004, three Prison Custody Officer Certificates were withdrawn from Her Majesty's Prison Dovegate, one certificate at Her Majesty's Prison/Young Offenders Institution Altcourse and one certificate at Her Majesty's Prison/Young Offenders Institution Doncaster.
Since April 2004, one Prison Custody Officer certificate has been withdrawn at Her Majesty's Prison Dovegate and one certificate was withdrawn at Her Majesty's Prison Wolds.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Prison Custody Officer certificates have been issued by his Department for each privately run prison in each month since 1 January 2003. [187104]
§ Paul GogginsThe information requested is as follows.
Senior Civil Service beyond 60 if they judge it to be in the public interest and are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties.
In answer to part B of your question, Home Office policy continues to be that there should be no age discrimination on selecting candidates who have the relevant skills and qualifications and are considered to be capable of delivering value for money (i.e. a return on recruitment costs and training requirements before the normal retirement age). Up to and including Grade 6. European Law also prevents us from imposing age limits as part of the selection procedure.