HC Deb 30 June 1964 vol 697 cc1120-1
11. Mr. Boyden

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise temporarily the superannuation and salary arrangements for retired Government employees, such as teachers and some categories of local authority employees, where there are serious shortages of trained staff, so that adequate financial rewards can be made to such people if they resume employment, full or part time, in those occupations where shortages of staff are persistent.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

No, Sir. I have no proposals for changes in the present arrangements which seem to me to provide reasonable remuneration.

Mr. Boyden

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the position as regards superannuated teachers is ridiculous? A teacher who retires on a low salary and goes back to teaching is not allowed to earn as much salary as a teacher on a much higher pension. Can he not at least correct this anomaly in view of the serious shortage of teachers and the desire of the Secretary of State for Education and Science to keep more superannuated teachers in schools?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The general principle is that a public servant who retires and who is re-employed again should not, while re-employed, draw a total income—salary and pension together—more than he was drawing immediately prior to retirement at the end of his career. On the whole, I think that this is a sound principle, and the House will remember that re-employment has an effect in improving the ultimate pension.

Mr. Bourne-Arton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the suggestion in the Question implies a very sensible and practical way of dealing with some very serious shortages? Will he not allow a general principle to interfere with anything that can be done, for example, to find the additional teachers so desperately needed?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not think I can go as far as that. The general principle is of considerable importance. But I very much sympathise with the desire to deal with the problem, which in certain areas is acute.

Mr. Rankin

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that, if a teacher who has earned his pension in his own profession returns to work in any other profession, he can draw the pension which he is refused the right to draw if he returns to the teaching profession, which needs teachers? Does he think that that is just?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I know few, if any, private employers who will pay a pension to a person while continuing to employ him.

Mr. Gourlay

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.