§ Lieut.-Colonel HURSTasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the approximate number and average age of teachers who retired before 1st April, 1919; the number who have been found not entitled to increase in pension in consequence of their existing incomes exceeding £200 where married and £150 where single; and the approximate cost involved by any proposal to extend to such teachers the benefits enjoyed by those retiring after 1st April, 1919?
§ Mr. FISHERThe approximate number of teachers in receipt of pensions under the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Acts, 1898 to 1912, and the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools who retired before the 1st April, 1919, and were living when the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, came into operation, was 6,400. The average age of these pensioners on that date cannot be given without a detailed investigation. It may be stated, however, that the age of those who retired on the ground of ill-health varies between 34 and 84 years, and of those who retired on the ground of age between 66 and 95 years.
The number of pensioners under the above Acts and Code of Regulations who have applied for an increase under the Pensions (Increase) Act, and have been found not to be entitled to such increase, in consequence of their existing incomes exceeding £200 where married and £150 where single, is 320. In addition, 246 were only entitled to a partial increase. No applications for an increase have been received from, approximately, 1,000 pen- 106W sioners, although forms were sent to them, and it may be assumed that the large majority of these have not applied by reason of the fact that their means exceeded the statutory limit laid down by the Pensions (Increase) Act. The Board have no information at their disposal which would enable them to state the approximate cost of extending to such pensioners the benefits enjoyed under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, by teachers retiring after 1st April, 1919.