§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education, having regard to the fact that a contract was made between the School Board for London and their non-teaching staff in 1888, whereby the employees submitted to a deduction of two per cent. from their salaries, the conditions being that when they reached the age of sixty, or if previously incapacitated through infirmity, they should be entitled to superannuation on the Civil Service scale; whether he can explain why the non-teaching staff servants of the Board are now obliged to accept less than one-fifth of what was agreed upon, and whether he can suggest any course that would mitigate this treatment.
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir J. GORST, Cambridge University)This is a matter between the School Board for London and their staff, of which the Board of Education has no cognisance and in which it has no right to interfere.
§ MR. FLAVINCan the right hon. Gentleman suggest any means by which these people can get full payment?
§ SIR J. GORSTNo, Sir, I cannot.