§ Captain RAMAGEasked the President of the Board of Education if he will give a comparative statement of the scale of pensions in the case of women teachers who retired before 1918 and who have since retired, respectively?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI presume that the hon. and gallant Member is distinguishing between pensions awarded after the 1st April, 1919, when the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, came into operation, and pensions awarded under the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Acts, 1898 and 1912. The average amount of pension (exclusive of the deferred annuity) awarded to women on the ground of age in the year ending the 31st March, 1919, was £44. Those pensions were calculated at the rate of £1 for each complete year of recorded service, with an addition of 2d. for each complete year served before the 1st April, 1899. These pensions are subject to a maximum increase of 50 per cent. under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920. The benefits under the Act of 1918 are based on years of recognised service and on average salary for the last five years thereof. The average amount of allowances to women teachers on the ground of age in the year ending the 31st March, 1920, was £69 per annum and £192 lump sum.