HC Deb 27 March 1958 vol 585 c587
43. Mr. Short

asked the Minister of Education if he will amend the rule in paragraph 5 of Circular No. 336 to enable Government scientific and technical officers who undertake up to four hours teaching a week in technical colleges but are unable to make up the time lost to retain the fees paid to them by the local education authority.

Sir E. Boyle

No, Sir. Where an officer undertakes teaching work in official time and does not make up the time lost, my right hon. Friend thinks it right and proper that his salary should be adjusted as described in this paragraph.

Mr. Short

Does not the hon. Gentleman know that this is a small but potentially very valuable source of higher technological teachers? Is he not aware that the technical colleges are finding great difficulties in getting staff, and does he not feel that this rather niggling regulation would deter some of these officers from offering their services? Should we not treat them as well as we treat ourselves in the matter of extra fees in ordinary working hours?

Sir E. Boyle

It is a long standing principle that a public servant should not be paid twice for work done in official time, and we should think hard before departing from that principle.