HC Deb 26 February 1912 vol 34 cc981-3
Sir HILDRED CARLILE

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether, in view of the statement that the Merthyr Tydvil education authority proposes to pay, after 31st March, 1912, the same scale of salaries to the teachers in provided and non-provided schools in their area, this authority will make good to the teachers in the non-provided schools the losses they have sustained by the authority in question having disregarded the law in this respect in the past?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)

As the hon. Member has been informed, I have no official information with regard to the action of the Merthyr Tydvil education authority in this matter.

Sir H. CARLILE

asked when the local education authorities of Cardiganshire and Glamorganshire will give effect to the Education Act, 1902, by paying the same rate of salaries to the teachers alike in provided and non-provided schools in their respective areas; and whether they propose to make good the losses sustained by the teachers in the non-provided schools arising from the authorities having failed to carry out their legal obligations in the past in this respect?

Mr. PEASE

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on this subject on Monday last. I have no information with regard to the second part of the question. As the hon. Member has been informed, I am making inquiry into the circumstances attending the action of the local education authorities to which the hon. Member refers, and until I am in possession of the facts I cannot deal with the inference drawn by the hon. Member that the local education atuhorities have failed to carry out their legal obligation.

Lord HUGH CECIL

When will the right hon. Gentleman be in possession of the necessary facts?

Mr. PEASE

I assume after the next meetings of the councils of the two education committees?

Lord HUGH CECIL

When is that?

Mr. PEASE

I think that the education committee of Glamorganshire meet to-morrow. I think that the 14th of March is the county council day, and I think that 25th April is the date of the next county council meeting in Cardiganshire.

Lord HUGH CECIL

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that he cannot make inquiries before the county council holds its meeting?

Mr. PEASE

The inquiries have been made, but I cannot expect an answer from the county council until the county council has met.

Lord HUGH CECIL

Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman expect an answer? Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to what has actually taken place and state the facts?

Mr. PEASE

I have no power to summon the education committees of the county council. The meetings of the education committees will be called in due course, and whatever is recommended by the committees must be dealt with by the council before we hear from them.

Lord ROBERT CECIL

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the differentiation by the local education authorities of Cardiganshire and Glamorganshire as to the salaries of teachers in non-provided schools is due to sectarian reasons, and whether he expects to hear from those authorities on the subject; and whether communications made to the Board of Education months ago on this subject have so far received no more than a formal answer?

Mr. PEASE

I have not been furnished with the reasons which have led to the action on the part of the local education authorities referred to by the Noble Lord. With regard to the second part of the question, I cannot undertake to name any date, but I have reason to believe I shall hear after the next meetings of the county councils. In reply to the last part of the question, I am unable to give a definite reply to the managers, until I have heard further from the local authorities.

Lord HUGH CECIL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the published statement to the effect that the committee state that they will be in a better position to consider the question if all religious instruction of a sectarian character were permitted?

Mr. PEASE

I have no official information to that effect.

Lord HUGH CECIL

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information of the facts?

Mr. PEASE

No more than is open to the Noble Lord, with what has been published in the Press.

Lord HUGH CECIL

Has the right hon. Gentleman the slightest doubt of the truth of the statement? I press for an answer.

Mr. PEASE

I am not responsible for the accuracy of the statements in the Press.

Lord HUGH CECIL

It is a plain evasion.