§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Keighley Education Committee is proposing to dismiss, merely on the ground that she is married, Mrs. Belfield, headmistress of one of their schools; whether he is aware that 1612W this lady has served over 14 years without question, has done invaluable work in the town, has earned the confidence of the townsfolk, has paid superannuation allowance for years, and yet is now, on the eve of a pension, dismissed without consideration; and whether, in view of the fact that she has been engaged by the Keighley committee for 14 years, he will represent to the committee, which is dismissing all married women, that sympathetic reconsideration should be at least extended to this case?
§ Mr. FISHERMy attention has been called to this case. I have, however, no authority to interfere with the discretion of the local authority in deciding what individual teachers to employ or continue to employ, and any application for special treatment which the teacher in question or her friends may desire to make should be addressed to the local authority rather than to the Board.