§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Government have taken any, and, if so, what steps to make good their pledge to the Catholic school authorities in Scotland with regard to the residue Grant; if not, is there any intention of reconsidering the position of voluntary schools in Scotland; and whether he is aware that an assurance on this point is of importance at this juncture, in view of the proposed superannuation scheme for teachers and other burdens imposed by the Scottish Education Department?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe voluntary schools have their full share in the new Grant made by the Treasury, as well as in the additional Grant to the Education (Scotland) Fund made in 1908. I am not in a position to promise any further Grant from the Treasury, and the only way, therefore, that the addition to the fee Grant could be increased would be by diminishing the expenditure upon secondary education, bursaries, and medical inspection, etc., in the benefits of which the voluntary schools share along with others. The figure anticipated by my predecessor did not refer to voluntary schools alone, but to all schools, and I am not aware that there is any general desire to diminish expenditure upon the objects I have named for the purpose of increasing the fee Grant.
§ Mr. BOLANDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that an undertaking was given by his predecessor that in the case of the voluntary schools a sum of 6s. per head would be given out of the residue Grant?
§ Mr. BOLANDWill the right hon. Gentleman allow me to supply him with a copy of the OFFICIAL REPORT which gives the promise?
§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether those who were responsible for the framing of the superannuation scheme for Scottish teachers, when basing the scheme on salary, were aware that the salary of a competent class teacher under a school board frequently rises to £200 per annum or more, and that the salary of a competent voluntary school teacher of the same status is seldom higher than £100 per annum; and could the payment of the Government portion for each teacher, under Section 5 (2) (a) and (b), be made the average of 4 per cent, on all teachers' salaries for the year?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe answer to the first question is in the affirmative, and to the second question in the negative. I am aware that the salaries of teachers in the voluntary schools are, on the average, lower than those of teachers in board schools. The Government Grant is not made on the basis suggested in the question, and cannot be so made in terms of the Statute.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether those responsible for the teachers' superannuation scheme intend making any arrangements whereby the pension of a Catholic class teacher, which on estimated salary may be £60 per annum, will be brought on a level with the pension of the board school teacher which on estimated salary will amount possibly to £120 per annum; and whether, in drafting the superannuation scheme for Scottish teachers of all grades and denominations, the Government intends taking status and service into account in giving pensions as well as individual salaries; and, if not, has he adverted to the handicap that will be inflicted on Catholic teachers of all grades?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am unable to accept the figures quoted in the question as accurate, and the answer to each of the three parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. PIRIEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in connection with the request for an allowance of Equipment Grants to ordinary primary schools towards the extra cost of an intermediate curriculum for specialised pupils, he will explain why county committees were urged to give special consideration to the claims of such schools in accordance with Section 1 (8) (b), of the Department's Memorandum of April, 1909, as to Section 17 of the Act, seeing that the possibility of 1104 Grants under this Section has largely become a dead letter owing to shortage of funds?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI would direct my hon. Friend's attention to the fact that while the Department's Memorandum was issued in April, 1909, it was not until two years later that there took place the "unexpected and it is to be hoped temporary shrinkage in the sources whence the Education (Scotland) Fund is derived" of which the committee's were duly advised on 30th May, 1911.
§ Mr. PIRIEMay I ask if the effect of the last answer from the right hon. Gentleman's Department was that no mention was made of the shortage of funds?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI hope my hon. Friend will recognise that I cannot possibly recall the last answer.
§ Mr. PIRIEWill the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to see that the answers of the Scottish Department are given for the guidance of the public and not merely for the information of Members?