HC Deb 03 July 1941 vol 372 cc1482-3
37. Miss Eleanor Rathbone

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that non-resident members of the staffs of training colleges, other than under the London County Council, who have evacuated to reception areas with the approval of. the Board, have been informed that they are not included in the Government scheme of allowances for evacuated teachers, although they are obligatory contributors to the Government school teachers super annuation scheme and have inescapable commitments for rents, mortgages, allowances to dependants, etc., similar to those of teachers included in the scheme; will he explain the real position of such teachers; and whether the colleges employing them, if they pay their billeting allowances on the London County Council scale, may expect reimbursement?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I am aware that members of the staffs of training colleges have been informed that they are not eligible to receive the billeting allowances payable in the case of teachers coming under the Government evacuation scheme relating to what are known as the "priority classes." The voluntary training colleges have, however, been informed that if they make special allowances to teachers in respect of evacuation expenses such allowances will be taken into account in deciding whether, and if so how much, additional grant is payable to the college at the end of the year. So far as colleges provided by a local education authority are concerned, the Board are prepared to recognise for grant purposes expenditure incurred in making reasonable evacuation allowances to members of the staff. I am now considering whether the present arrangements are satisfactory or require modification.