§ 54. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the President of the Board of Education whether the Neath education authority is still refusing to pay salaries to non-provided school teachers at the same rate as the salaries paid to teachers of similar qualifications and experience in the council schools; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to induce the Neath education authority to discharge its legal obligations in this respect?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)I have received no communication relating to the matter referred to by the hon. Member, and no question has arisen for the Board's determination under Section 7 of the Education Act, 1902.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANHas not the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the case of Alderman Davies' school, and if I can supply him with facts proving that these salaries are lower at that school than the ordinary scale, will he take action?
§ Mr. J. A. PEASEIt is the duty of the authorities to maintain schools efficiently, and they have ample power to vary the salaries in accordance with the varying circumstances of the school. Unless my attention is called to the matter under Section 7 of the Act, I have no jurisdiction in the matter.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIf I call the hon. Gentleman's attention to the case will he look into it?
§ Mr. J. A. PEASEIf I have any indication that such a school is inefficient——
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is not a question of the school being inefficient, but of teachers getting lower salaries than the scale, although they have the same qualifications as teachers in other schools.
§ Mr. J. A. PEASEMy jurisdiction only comes in if I am satisfied that the schools are inefficient.