§ Mr. Woodhouseasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she will introduce legislation to remedy the anomaly by which students training for the teaching profession are obliged to pay National Insurance contributions at the unemployed rate while at their university or college, if they are not to risk forfeiting certain of the benefits due to them.
§ Mr. PentlandIn a contributory scheme it would be an anomaly if students received benefits without paying contributions but special provisions enable them to qualify quickly for sickness or unemployment benefit shortly 15W after completion of training and they are allowed a very generous period in which to pay any arrears of contributions should they so wish. Members of the teaching profession may, of course, benefit from sick pay arrangements under their conditions of employment and have a vocational pension scheme under the Teacher Superannuation Acts.