Lieut.-Colonel V. HENDERSONasked the President of the Board of Education how many teachers who are pensioners are now living who were apprenticed before 1862; and what undertakings as to superannuation were given to them when they signed their indentures stating scale of pension?
§ Lord E. PERCYI assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to teachers who are in receipt of pensions under the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools up to and including that of 1905, which stated that no teacher might receive a pension under Schedule VII who was not in employment or a recognised student of a training college on 9th May, 1862. The number of such pensioners now living is 220.
As regards the second part of the question, the Committee of Council on Education, by Minute of the 6th August, 1851, fixed the amount of these pensions at £20, £25, or £30, according to the merits of the particular case—(these sums were increased by Minute of the Board of Education, dated 25th February, 1918, to £30, £35, and £40, respectively)—and by Circular to H.M. Inspectors in October, 1851, pointed out that their Lordships
take power, but do not pledge themselves, to grant pensions of this nature. No such pension, therefore, can be claimed as a right under any circumstances whatever.This view of the position was endorsed by the Select Committee appointed in 1872 to consider the provision of pensions to certificated teachers, and is referred to on page 83 of the Final Report of the 964W Commissioners appointed in 1886 to enquire into the Elementary Education Acts.