§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary if he will ascertain and state when the rules and regulations of the Commissioners of National Education for the year 1909–10 will be published and sent to managers and teachers; whether the Commissioners grant special promotion to any teachers 1971 at present; and, if so, what is the nature of the reports required for that purpose; what is the cause of the delay in paying the national school teachers the triennial increments due to them since 1st April last; and what arrangements have been made for the payment of the supplementary grant to teachers in future?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the Rules and Regulations in question are passing through the press and will be issued to managers and teachers at an early date. As a rule teachers have to remain at least three years on the maximum of their grade before they are eligible for promotion. The Commissioners, however, recognise that there may be teachers whose abilities and services are very exceptional. The cases of such teachers are specially considered, all the reports on their schools for a series of years together with the records of their official careers being minutely scrutinised. The Commissioners assure me that there has been no unnecessary delay in dealing with claims for increments, which are promptly disposed of where there is evidence that the necessary conditions have been fulfilled. At certain dates, such as the 1st April, such claims sometimes run into thousands. The payment of the supplementary grant is made in the month of April in each year, and is in respect of services given during the 12 months ending the 31st March.