§ Mr. A. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will reconsider the case for pension benefits of Mr. W. G. Read, late assistant master at Hackney Down School, in view of the following facts: that Mr. Read was appointed assistant master at the school in 1881, and reappointed as full-time master by the London County Council in September, 1900; that he withdrew from the Council's pension scheme in 1919 in order to benefit under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, yet was not informed by the Board that, in its opinion, he was not a full-time teacher until May, 1921; that during this period, although he was still, in status, an assistant master, in actual fact he was acting as deputy for the headmaster at the latter's request and with the sanction of the Council, and performing duties which, by accepted custom in secondary schools under the authority, fall upon the headmaster, thus affording to the latter such relief as only a person far above the status for an ordinary clerk could supply; that His Majesty's inspector in 1921 expressed the opinion that Mr. Read was doing work which entitled him to full pension rights; and that he is now considered by the Board to be ineligible for pension benefits for the period January, 1905, to July. 1921?
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§ Mr. E. WOODI will certainly review the case, but on the facts at present before me I find it difficult to regard Mr. Read as having, for a good many years, been in full time teaching service. The staff register as furnished to the Board, has described Mr. Read since 1908 in the following terms
Acts as school secretary under the headmaster and takes some classes in mathematics and geography.The time-table for 1920–21 shows that he taught mathematics to one of the lower forms for eight periods or six hours a week, and a note is added:
Rest of time—Secretarial work.It was not until Mr. Read was nearing retirement that the Board had to consider his position under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918.
§ Mr. COLLISONasked the President of the Board of Education if any decision has been arrived at with regard to the pensions of teachers who retired before 1919, so as to grant to the English teachers the same privileges as Scottish retired teachers possess?
§ Mr. E. WOODThe answer is in the negative. I may, however, refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 23rd April last to my hon. Friends the Members for Southport (Lieut.-Colonel D. White) and Devonport (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke).