§ Mr. LINDSAYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that many of the pensioned national teachers of Ireland die in distress owing to the inadequacy of their pensions; that numbers of them were obliged to retire prematurely in pursuance of a policy which Provost Faill, Commissioner of National Education, described as enforced inefficiency; that, to secure the closing of small schools, inspectors urged teachers to resign, intimating that grants would be withdrawn and no pension would be given unless the teacher resigned; that in some cases, to induce the teacher to resign prematurely, the inspector promised to secure for him special superannuation treatment, though he know that this was impossible of accomplishment; that some of the younger pensioners were obliged by their managers to retire prematurely, as younger teachers were wanted; and that there are retired teachers who were obliged to resign on small pensions owing to ill-health brought about by labouring in insanitary school-houses; and if he will introduce a measure to provide the retired Irish national teachers with living pensions?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe Commissioners of National Education are not aware that teachers have been forced to retire from the service in the circumstances mentioned. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to my reply of the 7th April to the question of the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor).