§ 27. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what new action he has taken recently to 1189 encourage married women teachers who left the teaching service on marriage to return to teaching.
§ Sir E. BoyleA national publicity campaign is due to begin next Sunday, 12th April. Its aim will be to stimulate the return to the schools of qualified married women teachers, and to reinforce the vigorous local efforts already being made in many areas.
§ Mr. LewisI do not expect to be asked to come to see the right hon. Gentleman, but will he discuss with his right hon. Friend the Chancellor the possibility of these teachers having their salaries separated from their husbands' salaries for tax purposes so that they can be taxed on their own individual incomes? A number of women are being deterred from coming back to teaching because the fact of the two salaries being taken together puts them into the higher taxation class.
§ Sir E. BoyleIn answer to the hon. Gentleman's first remark, I shall be pleased to see him at any time. In answer to the second part of his supplementary question, I remind the hon. Gentleman that, whatever the pros and cons of the Surtax reliefs which we debated three years ago, they certainly did a great deal to ease this problem.
§ Mrs. WhiteCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether any negotiations have started on the other important matter about which married women are concerned, namely, the counting for superannuation purposes of part-time service?
§ Sir E. BoyleThat is another question, but I can tell the hon. Lady that we are still looking at it. As she knows, it presents considerable difficulties. It was raised when we discussed the quota last time, and it is a matter in our thoughts.