HC Deb 24 February 1965 vol 707 cc370-2
10. Lady Tweedsmuir

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will offer full pay and pensions to older teachers wishing to return to the service.

28. Mr. Manuel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to induce older teachers to return to the service; and if he will make a statement.

48. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what inducements he will offer to retired teachers who are prepared to return to teaching.

Mrs. Hart

Ways of inducing older teachers to return to service, including the possibility of full pay and pension are being examined urgently, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.

Lady Tweedsmuir

Would the hon. Lady say what in her view are the main difficulties which apparently make it impossible to introduce full pay and pensions without once going into a long and exhaustive review?

Mrs. Hart

It is not a matter of a particularly long and exhaustive review. There are, however, as I thought would have been clear to the hon. Lady, certain difficulties. The whole area of public service pension schemes is involved; and there would be certain costs. Those are two of the questions which, clearly, involve a quite considerable amount of examination before a quick decision can be made.

Mr. Manuel

Is my hon. Friend aware that this problem was in the lap of right hon. and hon. Members opposite for the past 13 years? Is my hon. Friend further aware that the Knox Committee recommended in its Report in 1958 that full pay and continuing pension should be conceded? Is it not rather deplorable that the hon. Lady the Member for Aberdeen, South (Lady Tweedsmuir) and hon. and right hon. Members opposite should be wriggling out of their responsibilities when they were in office and trying to create a situation in which it would appear we are to blame?

Mrs. Hart

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing out what I myself thought it would be a little cruel to keep on pointing out to hon. Members opposite.

Mr. William Hamilton

They are sunk again.

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