65. Mr. T. WILSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any steps have yet been taken to carry into effect the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on conditions of service, etc., of the staffs in reformatory and industrial schools; whether he is aware that the hours of work of teachers and instructors in these institutions average from sixty to seventy per week; that the remuneration of the teachers is considerably below that paid to teachers in elementary schools whose hours of work are much less; that the pay of the instructors is considerably less than that of the average craftsmen employed outside; and whether the recommendation of the Committee that these staffs should receive at least twelve months' retrospective pay is to be carried out?
§ Mr. SHORTTI am aware of the findings of the Committee referred to, which was appointed by my predecessor with the special object of improving the conditions of service of the staff of reformatory and industrial schools. In reply to the second part of the question, the Committee did not state that the average hours worked are from sixty to seventy per week, but that the staff are generally employed for thirty hours a week in teaching and often for as many or even more hours on other duties. The reply to the third and fourth parts of the question is in the affirmative. With reference to the first and fifth parts of the question, I am anxious that effect should be given to the recommendations of the Committee by the managers of the schools as soon as possible, including the recommendation as regards retrospective pay. The scheme which the Committee proposes involves a complete review of the financial arrangements by which these schools are supported, and the whole subject is receiving 476 the immediate consideration of the Treasury and the Home Office. I hope to be able to issue to the managers of the schools very shortly a statement showing what the revised financial arrangements will be.