31. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Education whether the Government will now consider the financial position of the older school-teachers who have some 35 to 40 years' service and who are now receiving some £40 per annum less, in hard cash, than they received in 1939; and whether he will take immediate steps to make suitable adjustments to alleviate these cases of hardship.
§ Mr. ButlerI assume that ray hon. Friend has in mind the position of 405 teachers who, having reached the maxima of their scales of salary, have not benefited by increments of salary between 1939 and the present time. If so, the diminution of their net earnings as between the two dates must be due to the fact that the amount of additional Income Tax payable by them more than outweighs the benefits which they receive by way of war allowances. The incidence of Income Tax is a hardship shared in common with other classes of the community and there could be no justification for giving special treatment in this matter to teachers.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that my Question also refers to uncertificated teachers, many of whom are undergoing great hardship? It is no use saying how sad it is. Why not do something practical?