To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost to public funds was of the recently announced early retirement of the Prison Service London area manager; who authorised the retirement; for what reason the early retirement was authorised; and if he will make a statement. (115794)

The pension benefits and associated costs falling to the Department, and reasons for leaving in individual early retirement cases, is information considered personal and would therefore not be provided. The decision to consider and authorise early retirement, taken in this case by the Home Office Board, was in accordance with the rules and criteria set out in the Civil Service Compensation Scheme governing early retirement.