§ 21. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the salary increase of 5 per cent., recently awarded to teachers, has resulted, in the case of those promoted teachers who have retired but returned to teaching, in a decrease of the pension element so as to maintain their total salary at the same level; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this anomaly.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonYes, Sir. It is a general rule of public service superannuation that a pensioner re-employed in the same service may receive only so much of his pension as, when added to his pay, will not make the total of pay and pension greater than his pay at the time of his retirement. My right hon. Friend cannot exempt teachers in the circumstances mentioned from this general rule.
§ Mr. RankinMight I urge the hon. Gentleman to get his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to think about this matter again? Does he not realise that he is offending in two respects? First, he is refusing a teacher the right to draw a pension which he has earned, and secondly, he is creating a small pool of cheap labour in the teaching profession. Does the hon. Gentleman consider that this is a way in which he will help to bring the 1,000 extra teachers into the teaching profession?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe provisions of the superannuation scheme are well known. This proposal would require an alteration in them.