§ Sir J. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Commissioners of National Education have yet received authority from the Treasury to pay all teachers who have been promoted to the first grade the arrears of salary to which they are entitled according to Rule 105 (a) of the Commissioners; if he will state the nature of the recommendations made by the Commissioners of National Education on this question; what offer, if any, has been made by the Treasury to the Commissioners; has any of the revision taken place in the limit of numbers fixed by the Treasury; has any promise been given that the teachers concerned would be paid the arrears of salary due; and if he is able to name any other public servants in Ireland who are denied increases of salary on promotion?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question asked by him on 19th June last, to which I have nothing at present to add. The Irish Government have informed the Commissioners of National Education that they are prepared to recommend to the Treasury an expansion of the standard numbers to meet the case of the forty-seven teachers who have been promoted without a corresponding increase of salary provided that no further promotions are made save on the occurrence of vacancies, but the Commissioners have declined this offer. No promise has been given as to the payment of arrears of salary. All other public servants, so far as I am aware, have to wait for vacancies before obtaining promotion.