Sir F. HALLasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that a number of teachers who retired on 1st April last under the provisions of the 1918 Teachers' Superannuation Act have not yet received the first instalment of the pension and gratuity due to them; that the teachers who retired at midsummer have not yet been informed as to the amount of 1701W pension or gratuity to which they are entitled; that in consequence of the delay many teachers are in financial difficulties, and in some cases suffering positive hardship; and will he have immediate steps taken to speed up the matter so that pensions and gratuities may be awarded as soon as possible after retirement?
§ Mr. FISHERI regret that, owing to depletion of staff and the necessity of investigating the teachers' past service, there has been some inevitable delay in coming to a decision upon some of the applications. But I am making arrangements which will, I hope, expedite matters and, at any rate, enable provisional awards to be made pending final settlement after full investigation.