§ MR. LOWLES (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the case of Joseph Bigwood, a school visitor, who recently died in Islington Workhouse Infirmary; whether he is aware that, when he retired in May 1897, Bigwood had served the London Board faithfully for 24 years, and from March 1888 till his retirement had paid two per cent. of his salary into the Board's pension fund; whether, under the contract which he signed with the Board upon the introduction of the pension scheme, he was entitled at his retirement to a pension of £48 a year, but by its actuary's advice the Board could not afford to allow Bigwood more than £6 14s. per annum; and, whether steps will be taken to prevent similar hardship to school visitors compulsorily retired under like circumstances?
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (Sir JOHN GORST,) Cambridge UniversityThe Committee of Council have no information upon the case referred to, and have no control over the administration of School Board pension schemes.