§ 29 and 30. Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the present wages of European locally-recruited teachers in Government and Government-aided schools in Malaya and Singapore; and what wage increases have been granted over the 1941 scale to meet the great increase in the cost of living;
(2) why locally - recruited schoolteachers in Singapore and Malaya, who were not interned by the Japanese, are not to receive back pay whilst British officials there are receiving back pay in the same circumstances; and whether he will take steps to reduce the discrepancy between the wages of European and locally-recruited teachers, who at present take over 17 years' service to reach a figure slightly less than the initial wages of European teachers, their qualifications in many cases being identical
§ Mr. George HallMale teachers who are normally university graduates, recruited from Europe for service in Government and Government-aided schools in these territories are on a scale which, expressed in sterling, ranges from £560 to £1,120 per annum. Locally-recruited male teachers with identical qualifications and duties are paid at 80 per cent. of European rates, the difference being the usual expatriation allowance granted to European officers. My hon. and learned Friend no doubt has in mind locally- 22 recruited male teachers who are graduates of such institutions as Raffles College, the diplomas of which are not regarded as equal to the degrees possessed by the higher paid staff. The scale for these officers ranges from £231 to £455 per annum. There is also a grade of normal class certificated teachers, male members of which are paid on a scale ranging from £182 to £420 per annum.
A cost of living allowance of £14 per annum plus 10 per cent. of basic salary, subject to a maximum of £49 per annum, is being paid to all locally-recruited staff but not to officers recruited from Europe. The whole question of back pay during the period of occupation is now under local review with unofficial assistance.
§ Mr. PrittWill my right hon. Friend answer the last part of Question 29 and the last part of Question 30?
§ Mr. HallI will look into that point. The Government have been working under very great pressure since the civil administration was taken over on 1st April, but it is a point which I think ought to be looked into.
§ Mr. PrittI was not asking him to look into the point, I was asking him to answer a question of fact—as to whether wage increases have been granted.