asked the Minister for the Civil Service when the retirement age in the Civil Service was set at 60 years; and what is the increased annual cost of the pensions of this retirement age in 1982–83 and each of the two succeeding financial years.

The minimum retirement age in the Civil Service has been 60 since before the middle of the last century. As there are no plans to change this policy, no extra pension costs will be incurred in 1982–83 or the two succeeding financial years.