§ Mr. RAWLINSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of some misunderstanding which has. arisen as to the position of teachers who sign a declaration under Rule 14 of the School Teachers' Superannuation Rules, 1919, of their desire to withdraw from a pension scheme, he could see his way to extend the period prescribed by the rule from 1st July to 1st August?
§ Mr. FISHERWhenever a teacher is really doubtful whether it would be to his advantage to remain under an existing pension scheme or to come under the Act of 1918, I am quite willing to give him time to make up his mind. I understand, however, that a considerable number of teachers to whom the provisions of the Act would in any case be more advantageous than those of their existing schemes have refrained from sending in their declarations in the belief that they would prejudice their chance of securing the approval of the Treasury to satisfactory terms of recoupment under Sub-section (1) (d) of Section 14 of the Act. I do not think the Board are in any way responsible for this misunderstanding, but whatever its cause I am naturally unwilling that a considerable number of teachers should be deprived of the benefits of the Act, and the Board will, therefore, exercise their discretion under Rule 4 by extending the period to 1st August. I must, of course, not be understood as expressing any opinion as to the merits of any contention which the teachers may advance on a question which is one for the decision of the Treasury.