HC Deb 14 June 1966 vol 729 cc1390-2
Mr. Henry Clark (Antrim, North)

I beg to move, in page 5, line 36, at the end to add: (3) The Minister shall, when making payments under the said Act of 1960 as amended by the foregoing subsection, have regard to academic and professional qualifications obtained in the Republic of Ireland by the persons concerned. This is a minor Amendment which I have put down to a Bill under which we are spending some £140 million. The total effect of the Amendment will probably amount to a very few thousand pounds, but I hope that it will prevent the repetition of an injustice overseas which is regularly committed by the Ministry of Education in this country. For reasons best known to themselves, for many years the Ministry were employing people from the Republic of Ireland, and subjects of the United Kingdom, who have taken university degrees in the Republic of Ireland but have not recognised the diploma in education granted by the Irish universities.

This diploma is fully recognised by the universities in this country, but for some unknown reason, or for reasons best known to itself, the Ministry of Education in this country does not recognise it. In this Amendment I ask that teachers from the Republic of Ireland, and people from the United Kingdom, who have Irish qualifications and are serving overseas, receive full recognition in their salary qualifications for the diploma granted by my own university of Trinity College, Dublin, or any of the other Irish universities which grant this diploma. I will gladly withdraw the Amendment if I can have some assurance from the Minister to this effect.

Mr. Greenwood

This Amendment is superfluous, and I hope that the hon. Gentleman will withdraw it. The purpose of subsection (2) is simply to bring the Commonwealth Teachers Act into line with the other schemes of technical assistance, such as the Overseas Service Aid Scheme, by enabling me to make payments to persons of the Republic of Ireland as well as from the United Kingdom. Many Irish teachers have already been appointed to overseas posts under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme and we have plenty of experience of the qualifications which they possess and of their value.

I have met many cases where tribute has been paid to the work that they are doing in a number of cases. It is already a practice that my Ministry takes account of academic and professional qualifications obtained in Ireland in making payment under the aid scheme. That practice will continue in relation to payments to be made under this Bill. None of the Acts concerned with technical assistance, including the Commonwealth Teachers Act, refer to particular qualifications and it would be undesirable to begin such a reference now by accepting this Amendment. I hope that in the light of what I have said the hon. Gentleman will withdraw his Amendment.

Mr. Clark

In view of what the Minister has said, I beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.