§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that a petition has been presented to the Education Committee of the county borough of West Ham on behalf of the whole of their teachers for an increase in their salaries of 7s. per week; that such increase represents a total of £34,300, equivalent to a rate of 7d. in the £; that as the council have received no grants for elementary education under the Supplementary Grant regulations they are unable to accede to this request; that other education authorities who have received increased Grants have been enabled to increase the salaries of their teachers above the West Ham scale, as a consequence of which West Ham teachers are taking service under those authorities whenever opportunity occurs, and education in the borough is likely to suffer in consequence; and whether he will at once make some financial provision in order to enable West Ham to increase their scale of salaries and so retain the services of their teachers?
881W
§ Mr. HERBERT FISHERI have received representations to the effect stated in the question, and am considering the matter.