HC Deb 28 November 1944 vol 404 cc2412-3W
Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Minister of Education upon what principles of selection teachers in council schools are to be directed to areas for which they have declined to volunteer; whether he is aware that teachers so directed fear pecuniary loss not compensated for by the remuneration offered; and whether he will direct that teachers of the wartime staff and unmarried teachers shall be taken before married teachers whose home would be broken up by evacuation.

Mr. Butler

The London County Council consider the individual circumstances of every teacher before submitting his or her name to the Ministry of Labour for direction to a reception area. I understand that normally married women and single women over 50 years of age would not be considered for direction. Teachers have the opportunity of appealing against direction on grounds of hardship and before the Ministry's Local Appeals Board. Teachers who are directed will continue to receive their salaries as London teachers and will be eligible to claim Evacuation Allowances in accordance with the Rules for Special Payments and Allowances for evacuated staff. Where teachers have contractual obligations to serve in a reception area, these obligations have been enforced with due regard to compassionate or other special circumstances; objections based on personal hardship are carefully considered, but marriage is not the only criterion for this purpose.