§ Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked the President of the Board of Education whether service in a privately conducted school, with regard to which the Board are satisfied either by a certificate from an inspector of the Board or of a local 69W education authority or university that it is making satisfactory provision for the education of the scholars, will be accepted as qualifying service in accordance with the provisions of the School Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1918?
§ Mr. FISHERThe answer to the hon. Baronet's question is in the affirmative so far as service after the 1st April, 1919, is concerned. Service prior to that date stands on a different footing. The conditions of recognition of such service as qualifying service are more complicated, and I will send the hon. Baronet a copy of the Treasury's Declaration on the matter.
§ Sir P. MAGNUSasked the President of the Board of Education whether service in any university in receipt of grants, or otherwise, or in any university college will be accepted as qualifying service, under the Act, in respect of a professor or other teacher, demonstrator, or lecturer employed by the university or university college?
§ Mr. FISHERThe answer is in the affirmative provided the service is full-time service.
§ Sir P. MAGNUSasked the President of the Board of Education why the rules and regulations recently issued by the Board as to conditions of qualifying service under the School Teachers' (Superannuation) Act, 1918, and published wholly or in part in the Press, are not obtainable in the Vote Office for the information of Members?
§ Mr. FISHERI would remind my hon. Friend that it is for the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Board of Education, to declare what is qualifying service. The Treasury's declarations on the subject are not rules or regulations under the Act; but I propose to give due publicity to them, and will send my hon. Friend, a copy of the Declarations, so far made relating to teaching service. At present I am awaiting a further Declaration as to non-teaching service.
§ Sir CYRIL COBBasked the President of the Board of Education whether teachers who have served with His Majesty's Forces and are in consequence in impaired health are compelled to submit to medical examination in order to comply with the rules made under the School Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1918; whether the Act could be amended in 70W order that dependants may not suffer loss of death gratuity in the event of the early death of ex-Service teachers who are in impaired health as the result of War service; whether such ex-Service teachers are compelled to pay a fee for such medical examination; and, whether, having regard to the War service of such ex-Service teachers, he will make arrangements for payment by them of a medical fee to be dispensed with?
§ Mr. FISHERUnder the Act a death gratuity cannot be granted in respect of any teacher who fails to satisfy the Board that he was not of impaired health on 1st April, 1919. I regret that I do not see my way to provide for the payment of the medical officer's fee out of public money, or to initiate legislation to exempt teachers who have served in His Majesty's Forces from the requirement of the Act. But my hon. Friend may rest assured that where it is possible., consistently with the provisions of the Act, to dispense with a medical certificate in the case of ex-Service teachers, the Board will do so.