HC Deb 05 April 1951 vol 486 cc352-3
6. Sir R. Acland

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered the case put to him of a teacher from whose salary payment due in April there is to be deducted the sum of £5 10s. in respect of an over-payment made as a result of an error made in 1948 in the county education service; and whether such a deduction is in accordance with Government policy.

Mr. Tomlinson

Yes, Sir. Local education authorities have a statutory duty to pay salaries to their full-time teachers in accordance with the prescribed salary scales. In cases where errors of assessment are discovered it is for the authority to decide whether it is possible and desirable for them to recover the sum over-paid.

Sir R. Acland

Does not my right hon. Friend himself feel that in cases such as this the error, if it has been made, should lie where it has been made, and not be passed on to the teacher concerned long afterwards?

Mr. Tomlinson

What I am saying is that it does lie where it was made, and that it is for the authorities, if they wish, to remedy it.