To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer from the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr. McFadden), to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Marsden) of 4 December 2006, Official Report, columns 189-90W, on the retirement age, what his 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. (108013)

The setting of retirement ages for staff in my Department is a function that has been delegated to the permanent secretary under the definition in paragraph 2 (1) (a) of the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 relating to management of members of Her Majesty’s Home Civil Service. As such, the permanent secretary approved new age retirement arrangements, with effect from 1 October 2006, whereby there is no maximum retirement age for staff below the senior civil service.