HC Deb 19 April 1962 vol 658 c675
24. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers over the age of 65 are currently teaching in local authority schools; and how this number compares with those on a comparable date in 1959.

Sir D. Eccles

In March of last year, 1,048 teachers aged 65 and over were teaching in maintained primary and secondary schools. The corresponding figure for 1959 was 1,429.

Mr. Boyden

This is very unsatisfactory. Cannot the right hon. Gentleman induce his colleagues in the Treasury to provide some financial inducement for teachers over 65—or, perhaps, a substantial pensions inducement—because this is one of the sources, for the time being, anyway, from which we might get people to stay on.

Sir D. Eccles

It is not very clear why the numbers have fallen and I am looking into that matter, but I think it is generally recognised in the House that abatement of pensions on account of earnings is a subject on which there is a general principle throughout the public service and we could not make an exception for teachers.