§ 15. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now prepared to accept the recommendation of the Advisory Council on Education that a pensions scheme for the widows and dependants of teachers should be introduced.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonMy right hon. Friend is prepared to consider the introduction of a scheme in accordance with the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1956, on the lines of any of the three schemes described in the Working Party Report published in October, 1958. But he sees no prospect of legislation to give effect to the Advisory Council's recommendation in full.
§ Mr. HannanDoes not this Answer show that the Government are not sincere in their efforts on behalf of Scottish education? Is it not a fact that this proposal would do two things, namely, make the profession more competitive with other professions of similar character, such as the Civil Service, and also increase recruitment to a profession which is badly undermanned at the moment?
§ Mr. MacphersonIt is always dangerous to compare one type of employment with another. The fact is that the schemes which my right hon. Friend is willing to consider would put teachers in line with other local government and National Health Service employees.