§ Mr. COTTONasked the President of the Board of Education whether years spent as a student in a training college will count as qualifying service under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Bill or whether it is intended that a non-collegiate teacher shall be enabled to qualify for pension rights while his or her colleague is in college?
Mr. FISHERI cannot commit myself at present as to what service will be included in or excluded from "qualifying service." But I do not at present see how years spent as a student in a training college can be regarded as years of service or employment at all. I doubt very much whether the intending teacher who passes through a training college will find his pension prospects at all prejudiced thereby.
§ Mr. COTTONasked the President of the Board of Education if he has received a printed statement, dated the 2nd November, and signed by Mr. Spurley Hey, of Manchester, the president of the Association of Directors and Secretaries for Education, with regard to the position of these officers under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Bill; and will he state how exactly the matter stands, in view of the uncertainty which appears to exist and also of the responsibilities which will devolve upon these officers for the application of the powers and duties conferred by the Education Act of 1918?
Mr. FISHERI have received a letter, signed by the secretary of the association, dated the 2nd November. Under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Bill as it now stands, local education officials who have been teachers will be eligible2694W for pensions on their previous teaching service if, in other respects, they comply with the provisions of the Bill and the conditions prescribed under it. Local education officials who have not been teachers do not come within the scope of the Bill.