§ Brigadier-General Sir OWEN THOMASasked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether in May, 1918, the Departmental Committee of the Board of Education appointed to consider salaries in secondary schools issued a Report recommending very considerable improvement in salary scales; whether these scales were adopted throughout North Wales; and, if not, will he give the names of the secondary schools in North Wales which have not adopted the scales recommended by the Board of Education, and state the present salaries paid in those schools; (2) whether he is aware that the salaries paid to the secondary teachers in North Wales are at present very inadequate, and that the teachers are paid at a lower rate than those in other parts of the country; and whether, seeing that the inadequacy of these salaries in North Wales has in the past led to constant migration of teachers to the better-paid areas, with consequent detriment to the-efficiency of schools and of Welsh education generally, he will have inquiries made into the matter?
§ Mr. FISHERThe Departmental Committee expressed their view that a very great increase of salaries was necessary. They did not, however, suggest any definite scale of salaries, but only inserted in their Report an illustrative scale illustrating the principles which should determine the fixing of salaries for assistant masters in secondary schools who hold degrees or equivalent qualifications. In the explanatory note to the Regulations for Secondary Schools, 1918, it was stated that "The Board regard teachers' salaries as the primary object to which the new Grants should be applied" and that "They propose to make systematic inquiry with the view of ascertaining whether this condition is being adequately met in all schools on the Grant List." This systematic inquiry is 795W now being made. Returns have been called for, and, pending the receipt and examination of all the Returns, I am not in a position to furnish the information asked for.