§ Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in order to prevent teachers who are living in schoolhouses from being at a disadvantage as compared with other tenants of local authorities as a result of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956.
§ Mr. MaclayNo such disability should arise where the teacher occupies a schoolhouse which is "let under a lease" in terms of the Third Schedule to the Act. Doubts have, however, been expressed as to whether a teacher occupying a house without a formal lease is protected by the Act, and in a memorandum issued on 19th March I advised education authorities that they should, in such cases, enter 57W into a formal lease charging the teacher a rent equivalent to the annual value of the house less the amount of the owner's rates payable in 1956–57. I understand that some authorities have decided not to accept this advice, and I have accordingly asked the National Joint Council to consider whether any amendment to meet this point should be made in the provision of the Teachers' Salaries Regulations which requires the annual value of any house made available to a teacher rent free to be included in his salary.