asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many chief officers and officials of other grades in local government have indicated their decision to accept terms for early retirement under the Local Government Act 1973 ; what capital payments are involved ; and what are the financial consequences for local authority pension funds.

The decision of any officer to take early retirement under the Local Government Act 1972 is a matter between him and his employing authority. Detailed figures as to the numbers who have done so and the capital payments involved are not available. But information reaching the Staff Commission for England last autumn suggested that up to that time about a thousand officers had opted for early retirement. The cost of these benefits will fall upon the rate funds of the new authorities and will not be borne by local government superannuation funds.