§ 36. Mr. PIKEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the total number of elementary and secondary school teachers who are county, city, or rural district councillors; the number of teaching hours lost by their attendance at meetings in connection with their work as councillors; and if substitutes are provided during their absence and at what cost?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI regret that no information is available as to the number of teachers who are members of county councils or other local authorities, or as to the number of teaching hours lost by their attendance at meetings. I understand that where teachers are members of local public bodies it will 1139 generally be found that their meetings are held in the evenings, but if any cases arise in which teachers apply for leave of absence to attend meetings during school hours, it is for the local education authorities or governing bodies, whose servants they are, to deal with their applications, and I think that they can be relied upon to see that they are not granted unreasonably.
§ Mr. PIKEIs my hon. Friend aware that while the council meeting itself is probably held in the evening, a large majority of these committees are held from 2 o'clock onwards, and that does necessitate the leaving of school in order to attend the meetings of the committees? Will he issue new instructions which will prohibit their leaving during school teaching hours?
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESIn view of the plain insinuation involved in this question, can the hon. Gentleman say whether any sort of information in the possession of the Board of Education would indicate any conflict between the discharge of the professional duties of teachers and the discharge of their civic obligations?
§ Mr. PIKEWill my hon. Friend also state whether it is his opinion that this is a matter of professional conflict? Is it not a matter rather of national duty?
Duchess of ATHOLLDoes my hon. Friend really think that it is right in the public interest that teachers, as employés of the local authorities, should serve on local authorities?
§ 37. Mr. PIKEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he is aware that school teachers, employed under the West Riding of Yorkshire Education Authority, are seeking election and re-election to the Sheffield City Council; whether permission will be sanctioned in the event of their election to absent themselves from school during teaching hours to attend council meetings; and, if so, will he assure the House that comparable deductions will be made from the salaries for all teaching time lost whilst engaged in council business?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMAs regards the first part of the question, I regret that I have no information. As regards the 1140 second part, if any teachers were elected and, as a result, applied for leave of absence from school duties to attend council meetings, it would be for the West Riding authority to consider their applications, and I cannot say what their decision would be. I understand, however, that it has not been the general practice of this authority in the past to grant such applications.
§ Mr. PIKEWill the Minister recommend, in the event of such applications being granted, that comparable reductions will be made from their salaries while attending meetings?
§ 38. Mr. PIKEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Government propose to introduce legislation prohibiting the attendance of school-teaching councillors at council meetings during school hours?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMIt is not proposed to introduce legislation to interfere with the discretion on this matter of local authorities, whose servants the teachers are.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes the hon. Gentleman think it decent on the part of the hon. Member to canvass—[Interruption.]