§ Mr. GLYN-JONESasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that over 14.000 women teachers recently signed a petition in favour of earlier optional retirement, and to inquire whether he will arrange that the Departmental Committee he proposes to appoint shall take evidence on this question; and whether he can see his way to grant earlier optional retirement to women teachers at fifty-five or sixty, and, if so, what the pension would be?
§ Mr. J. A. PEASEI have no knowledge of the petition referred to. The question of taking evidence in this matter is for the Departmental Committee, but they will have first of all to consider whether any funds will be available for the various proposals for improving the existing system which have been referred to them. I can make no statement with regard to the last part of the question until I have received the Report of the Committee.