HC Deb 24 May 1962 vol 660 cc51-2W
27. Mr. Boyden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a housemaster with 10 years' satisfactory service in an approved school on 1st April, 1962, must have reached the age of 45 years before qualifying for the housemaster's full maximum scale.

Mr. Fletcher-Cooke

This is a matter for the Standing Joint Advisory Committee for Staffs of Children's Homes. The provision for long service to which the hon. Member refers applies only to unqualified housemasters who, on 1st April, 1962, had already reached the age above which staff are not normally accepted for training. The reason for inserting a minimum age is that it is hoped that such housemasters who were below the age of 45 on 1st April last will undertake a training course. Qualified housemasters can, of course, reach the full maximum scale at a younger age.