MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the intentions of the Government respecting the £124,977 arrears of school grant due to Ireland under the Education Act of 1892; does he still adhere to the proposal to meet the grievance by an allocation of £10,000 a-year to the Teachers' Pension Fund; has he seen the resolution of the Teachers' Central Organisation protesting against this plan, and declaring that the Pension Fund is quite adequate to the claims of existing teachers; and what will be done in the matter?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe intentions of the Government with regard to the arrears of school grant, which amount to about £66,000, as I explained last year, remain the same as were stated by me in the House on July 24th last, and involve the allocation of that amount to the Teachers' Pension Fund. I am not at present in a position to state what steps will be necessary to restore the fund to solvency, but I may state that the information in my possession is opposed to the statement to which the hon. Member refers—that the fund is "quite adequate to the claims of existing teachers."
MR. T. M. HEALYasked whether a Bill would be required, and whether the right hon. Gentleman would lay papers on the table relating to the state of the Teachers' Pension Fund?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid a Bill would not be required, it would be done by vote. He was not aware of any papers that could be laid on the table.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid that so much as would be voted in this year would, of course, appear on the Estimates.
§ MR. VESEY KNOX (Londonderry)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether a Supplementary Estimate 279 will be presented to Parliament providing in respect of the year 1896–7 for the annual grant of £10,000 a-year to the Irish Teachers' Pension Fund promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer; whether the Committee appointed to inquire into the administration of the Pension Fund has yet reported, and whether its report will be laid before the House without delay; and whether the fund is actuarially sufficient to meet the claims of existing teachers?
§ MR. HANBURYYes, sir, a supplementary Estimate will be presented. The report of the Committee has been received. It is proposed to defer any partial statement as to the opinions of the Committee until its report is in the hands of hon. Members.