§ 8. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to award housemasters in approved schools the same extraneous duty allowances as are paid to educational staff.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Miss Mervyn Pike)This is a matter for the Standing Joint Advisory Committee for Staffs of Children's Homes, which is an independent negotiating body.
§ Mr. BoydenThat is the usual answer. The housemasters are very discontented with the present gap between their wages and the wages of the teaching staff. Will the hon. Lady do something about this matter in order to bring about conditions in which the housemasters can approach more nearly to the situation of the teachers?
§ Miss PikeThe position is as I have stated. This is an independent negotiating body, and it would be inappropriate at this stage for my right hon. Friend to interfere.