To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the standard retirement age in his Department is; and how many people worked beyond the standard retirement age since his Department was established. (214138)

As part of the Machinery of Government changes of 28 June 2007 my Department has taken on board terms and conditions of staff transferred in from the former Department for Education and Skills (DFES) and Department for Trade and Industry (DTI). In DFES there was no set retirement age for the majority of staff. In DTI staff could retire at any time between the minimum retirement age of 60 and the maximum retirement age of 65. Staff also have a statutory right to request to continue working beyond 65. Careful consideration is given to such requests, but any offer to continue working beyond that age will be at the discretion of the Department.

A retirement age of 65 has been adopted by central Government for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) but members of the SCS can request to work beyond that age.

Four members of staff have worked beyond age 65 since my Department was set up, three from the former DFES, and one from the former DTI.