To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer from the Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South of 4 December 2006, Official Report, columns 189-90W, on the retirement age, what her Department’s policy is for the setting of retirement ages for staff below the senior civil service under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992. (108008)

In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the retirement policy as delegated under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 is a normal retirement age of 65, effective from 1 October 2006, for all permanent staff below the Senior Civil Service. This is in line with the Employment Equality (Age) Regulation 2006 default retirement age.