HC Deb 06 February 1945 vol 407 cc1965-6
Mr. Ede

I beg to move, in page 14, line 10, at end, insert: 2. Full time service in the employment of a former authority (not being service which was contributory service or recognised service) in any capacity in which it was the principal duty of the person employed therein to attend any establishment for providing social or physical training and either to provide or to supervise the provision of such training therein. The purpose of the Amendment is to bring into account for pension purposes, the back service of persons who may have been employed by local education authorities in the kind of service which, after 1st April, 1945, will become pensionable, through the Bill, under the principal Act. This should have been provided for when the Bill was drafted, and the Amendment is moved to rectify the omission.

Professor Gruffydd

May I ask for some enlightenment about the phrase "former authority"? I gather from the Amendment that it brings in a people who were not pensionable before 1st April, but will then become pensionable. I want to know whether people who were in the employment of the same authority, and who are not pensionable, will be included.

Mr. Ede

The hon. Member will recollect that under the Act of 1944 we abolished certain authorities. They are alluded to as "former authorities." In addition there are still a few people who were employed by the school boards, before 1902, and have some service even as far back as that. All those are "former" authorities.

Professor Gruffydd

Is a county education authority under the new Act a different authority from the same county authority before 1st April? For instance, is the Caernarvonshire county education authority, a different authority after 1st April, 1945, from what it has been before that date?

Mr. Ede

No, but the service of a teacher under the Caernarvonshire County Council is covered throughout the period of that service, if the teacher was employed by whoever was the authority responsible for providing education in the district in which he was employed.

Amendment agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Schedule, as amended, be the First Schedule to the Bill."

Mr. Silkin

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he will explain to the Committee the difference between the expressions "additional woman teacher" and "additional female teacher"?

Mr. Ede

It is due to a softening in the use of the English language. There was a time when in Acts of Parliament women were alluded to as "female" teachers. Now they are alluded to as "women" teachers. It is necessary to include both expressions, in order to make sure that in the time when they were females and not women, their services are included.

Question put, and agreed to.

Second Schedule agreed to.

Bill reported, with Amendments; as amended, considered; read the Third time, and passed.