§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary if he would obtain from the Treasury and submit to the House a statement showing how the estimate of an additional annual expense of £5,000, consequent upon the payment of national teachers' salaries monthly instead of quarterly, is arrived at?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estimated additional annual expenditure of £5,240 was arrived at after careful inquiry into the necessary additions to the staff of the Commissioners of National Education, the Post Office, and the Audit Office, amounting to £3,430, £1,360, and £450 per annum respectively.
Captain CRAIGIn view of the grave character of this matter, and the fact that all the teachers are agreed upon it, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it would be possible for him to pay a portion of what is due to each teacher each month, and then at the end of each year to sort up how much was due to them on balance, and so satisfactorily arrange the whole matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThat suggestion is a little complicated, and I should like to take time to consider it.
§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary, whether the Commissioners of National Education are in favour of the payment of national school teachers monthly instead of quarterly; whether the twelve assistant clerks (abstractors) for whom provision was made in the Estimates of 1910–11, were appointed; and whether the necessity for these officials exists if the scheme of monthly payments is not to be brought into operation?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education are in favour of the proposed change. The assistant clerks (abstractors) provided for in the Estimates of 1910–11 were appointed, not in connection with the proposed scheme of monthly payments, but in substitution for a number of boy clerks whose services were dispensed with.
§ Mr. LONSDALESeeing that the Commissioners are in favour of the proposal to pay the National teachers monthly, will the right hon. Gentleman hold out some hope that he will take immediate steps to deal with the matter? This is exciting a great deal of interest.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am aware of that, but it is unfortunately a fact that once you have begun a wrong system it involves a great deal of money to set it right. I will give the hon. Member full particulars in order to satisfy his own mind upon it. It involves an additional expenditure of £285,000, and I cannot see my way with the Treasury to get it.