§ 77. Sir P. MAGNUSasked the President of the Board of Education whether any teachers have already received pensions under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918; whether any qualified teachers have not yet received a first instalment of the pension due to them; and, if so, why has the payment been so long delayed?
§ Mr. FISHERThe number of superannuation allowances which have boon awarded under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, up to the 21st February, 1920, is 2,146. The number of applications received up to that date is 3,014, including 105 from teachers who were ineligible. The number of cases not yet decided is 763, but it must not be assumed that in all these cases payment of a first instalment is due. Every effort is being made to arrive at 639 decisions on these outstanding cases at the earliest date. Delay in settling cases may arise from a good many causes, and the hon. Baronet will understand that the verification and investigation of past service, whether as "qualifying" or "recognised" is not a simple matter, especially at the beginning of the work when general questions arise and precedents are still being established.