§ 67. Sir Robert Youngasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that some teachers have their service pay supplemented by the local education authority, assisted by a grant from his Department, while others of equal status receive no such supplement of service pay from the Board of Education, because the local education authority pays nothing to the teachers; and will he state the justification and authority to pay public money by his Department to one person and not to another employed by the State in similar capacities?
§ The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Ramsbotham)Teachers working under local education authorities are employed by the authorities and not by the State, and their position in this matter is governed by the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939, which empowers local education authorities to make up the civil remuneration of their employés who are engaged in war service. The exercise of this power is a matter for the discretion of the local authorities concerned. The Board's grants are related to the authorities' approved expenditure.
§ Sir R. YoungIs not this a case in which the Board of Education should try to set a good example to the local authorities? Are they not at present penalising one man against another?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe Board do not employ the teachers or pay them. If there were a proposal that the State should pay teachers, nobody would 677 object more strenuously than the hon. Gentleman.
§ Sir R. YoungIs it not the case that at present the Board give one teacher a grant of money and repudiate the other?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe salary is paid by the local education authority, and the Board pay a grant on the authority's expenditure.