HC Deb 23 November 1950 vol 481 cc486-7
17. Mr. Storey

asked the Minister of Education what will be the amount outstanding on 1st April, 1951, on account of late contributions for war service under the Teachers' Superannuation (War Service) Act, 1939; and how much of such contribution is payable by teachers and how much by their employer.

Mr. Tomlinson

It is not possible to estimate the figure with accuracy, but it may be of the order of £160,000, of which about five-eighths would be payable by the teachers (including ex-Training College students) and three-eighths by their employers.

18. Mr. Storey

asked the Minister of Education if he is now able to state the result of his examination into the question whether interest is chargeable under the Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1925, on teachers' late contributions for war service under the Teachers' Superannuation (War Service) Act, 1939.

Mr. Tomlinson

Under the Teachers Superannuation Rules, 1926, teachers' contributions for pensionable service are normally payable by 30th September in the financial year following that in which the service was rendered, later payments involving the payment of interest from 1st October. The application of this rule to contributions for pensionable war service is not altogether clear and a new statutory rule to clarify the position will shortly be proposed. In view of the special circumstances of war service, the rule will provide that interest shall not be chargeable where contributions are paid within three years after the end of war service in the case of persons who were previously employed in contributory teaching service, or within three years of the beginning of such teaching service in the case of persons who were previously Training College students: but in no case will interest be chargeable from a date before 1st April, 1951.

Mr. Storey

While I thank the Minister for the concession which he has announced, may I ask him whether, in view of the small amount of the outstanding contributions upon which interest will have to be paid, he will not reconsider the matter and give the concession to all outstanding contributions, thus removing what is regarded among teachers as a great grievance?

Mr. Tomlinson

I will look at it, but it would certainly not be removing a grievance to let some people off what others had considered a just debt and had paid.

Mr. Storey

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that he did not warn teachers at the time that they might be called upon to pay interest?