§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the President of the Board of Education whether supplementary teachers, even after many years' service, receive salary inferior to that of uncertificated teachers, and are ineligible for pension; whether the work of the two grades is practically identical; and whether, on the principle that equal 1457W work deserves equal pay, he will take steps to remove the grievance of supplementary teachers as regards salary and pension?
§ Mr. FISHERI am aware that in general the salaries of supplementary teachers are lower than those of uncertificated teachers; this is only natural in view of the facts that no specific educational qualifications are required of the former, and that their employment is subject to special restrictions. I cannot accept the suggestion that the work of the two classes is or ought to be practically identical, and I do not see my way at present to prescribe minimum salaries for supplementary teachers. As regards the question of pension, I would remind the hon. Member that when the School Teachers Superannuation Bill was under discussion last Session an Amendment to extend its benefits to supplementary teachers was rejected by the House of Commons.