§ Mr. KERR-SMILEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he has received any communication from the Irish national teachers in Ireland requesting a reform of the pension scheme; whether the teachers have asked that the pensions of Irish national teachers who have served the full term of service should be raised to two-thirds of the annual emoluments paid them by the National Board at the date of their retirement, provided in all cases that no pension allowance be less than that for which premiums have been paid by the pension recipient; that, in cases where teachers are compelled to retire through breakdown, either mental or physical, or through other causes over which they have no control, a bulk sum consisting of one year's salary should be granted to each compulsorily retired teacher who has given five or ten years' service, and to those who have given longer periods of service a disablement pension, consisting of one-sixtieth of annual income for every year of service, should be allowed; that, on the completion of thirty- 2855W five years' service by men and of thirty years' service by women, retirement upon the fraction of full pension, calculated as above stated, should be optional to all teachers; and that teachers who have retired on pensions should participate to the fullest extent in any improvements that may be made in the existing pension scheme; and whether he can state what steps he proposed to take to meet these demands; (2) whether dissatisfaction exists among national school teachers at the amount of the pensions given to them when they retire from active service; and whether he will state what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIn answer to the hon. Member, I would refer him to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for North Monaghan on the 29th of November.