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Early Retirement

Volume 456: debated on Tuesday 6 February 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers took early retirement in (a) west Lancashire and (b) England in each year since 1997, broken down by type of institution. (112297)

The information requested is not available at constituency or local authority level.

The following table provides the number of teachers who took early retirement, defined as before the normal pension age of 60 on premature, actuarially reduced benefits or ill health grounds, in each year from 1997-98 to 2005-06 and broken down by type of institution in England.

Early retirements by type of institution1, 1997-98 to 2005-06—England

Maintained sector

Financial year

Nursery/primary

Secondary

Special/PRU

Total maintained sector

1997-982

6,780

7,140

710

14,630

1998-99

2,120

2,270

270

4,660

1999-2000

2,250

2,490

240

4,970

2000-01

2,740

2,730

330

5,800

2001-02

2,580

2,930

350

5,860

2002-03

2,680

2,990

320

5,990

2003-04

2,940

3,540

320

6,810

2004-053

3,290

4,000

350

7,640

2005-063

3,370

4,370

380

8,120

Other sectors4Financial yearIndependentFurther and higher educationUnknownTotal all sectors1997-9821,2005,56028021,6701998-991805701705,5801999-20001805801305,8702000-012608301107,0002001-023701,0101107,3502002-034001,1501307,6702003-044001,0302008,4402004-0534501,2402309,5602005-0635901,29027010,270 1 The last known institution where the teacher was in teaching service which may have been some years before the date of retirement.2 The effect of the change in the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme, from 31 August 1997, was that many more teachers took early retirement in 1997 than in other years. Actuarially reduced benefits are included from 2000-01.3 Provisional.4 Including only those retirements from independent and further and higher education establishments covered under the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme.Note:Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.Source:DfES Pensioner statistical system