§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether the Commissioners of National Education have made recommendations to the Treasury in favour of paying the teachers monthly; whether any estimate has been formed as to the increased cost; if so, what is the amount; and is the question of cost the only objection to granting the unanimous request of the teachers in favour of monthly payments of their salaries?
§ Mr. BIRRELL:The Commissioners of National Education made no recommendations to the Treasury on the subject, but they prepared an estimate, from which it appears that the cost of the proposed change would be £180,000 or thereabouts for the first year, in addition to an annual increase in the Vote of some £2,000 for the additional staff which would be required in the Education Office. The cost is not the only difficulty. As I have already informed the hon. Member, time does not admit of the matter being maturely considered in connection with the Estimates for the current year, but the question whether arrangements can be made to effect the change is regards the year 1911–12 will be duly considered before next year.