MR. J. W. LOWTHER (Cumberland, Penrith)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether notice of dismissal has been given to the inspectors of drawing in elementary schools who are over 45 years of age, stationed in the districts of Cumberland, Westmorland, and North Lancashire; whether this is part of a general notice to all inspectors of drawing over 45 years of age throughout the country, or whether it is personal to the inspectors in the districts mentioned, and, if general, what is the reason for the adoption of so low a figure as 45 for the age of superannuation; and to how many individuals does such notice apply?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (MR. A. H. D. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham)In the district referred to notice has been given to one temporary local inspector, who is 47 years of age, that his appointment, which is from year to year, will not be renewed after August next. This is part of a general arrangement by which the temporary local inspectors are being replaced by a permanent inspectorate, most of the local inspectors who are under 45 years of age being put on the new permanent staff if they wish it. The notice of non-renewal of the local inspectorships after August next applies to 21 gentlemen, of whom 8 will be offered sub-inspectorships. The remaining 17 local inspectors will not have their appointments renewed after August 1896. It has always been made clear to all these gentlemen that their appointments were only for 12 months, renewable each year. They have been thanked by the Department for their work, but it is not possible to continue them consistently with the arrangements now being carried out.