§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)asked the hon. Member for the Evesham Division of Worcestershire, as Vice Chairman of the School Board for London, Whether he intends to proceed with the School Board Pensions Bill; and, whether it is the fact that, notwithstanding that the Bill is in terms not compulsory on existing employés of the Board without their assent, it is the intention of the School Board, if the Bill passes, to bring them all under the Bill by giving notice to terminate their existing engagements?
§ SIR RICHARD TEMPLE (Worcestor, Evesham)Yes, Sir; I do intend, on 545 behalf of the School Board for London, I to proceed with the Pension Bill in the hope of its being passed into law this Session, if possible. It is the fact that, although the wording of Clause 3 of the Bill implies voluntary acceptance of the pension scheme by the existing servants of the Board, still, in its essence and in its financial basis, the scheme is compulsory upon them all, without any exception. As an employer of intellectual labour, the Board has the power after notice for specified terms to terminate the engagements with its servants. There is not, indeed, any mention of such determination in the Board's Resolutions. But in these Resolutions, which are both public and published, bearing date 5th August, 1886, it is stated that in consideration of the pensionary allowances being granted a deduction of 2 per cent shall be made from the salaries of all the servants of the Board.
§ MR. KIMBERasked, whether it was the intention of the Board, even if the Bill did not pass, to terminate those engagements of employés for the purpose of compelling them to come under the pension scheme of the Bill?
§ SIR RICHARD TEMPLEIn the event of the Bill not being passed, the power which I have described of terminating engagements will remain with the Board. Whether the Board shall see fit to exercise that power is a question which, no man can answer, because the Board will never form decisions upon contingencies which have not yet arisen.