21.
asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will take an early opportunity of inviting representatives of the school teachers to meet him with a view to discussing the possibility at this stage of securing the voluntary co-operation of the teachers in relief of the taxpayer?
I am always open to discuss with representatives of the teachers any matters affecting the teaching profession on which I think discussion is likely to be valuable and teachers already have ample opportunities, either through membership of education committees or in other ways, of bringing to the notice of local education authorities any suggestions which they consider practicable for reducing the expenditure of the authorities on the administration or maintenance of the schools under their control. If, however, what the hon. and gallant. Member has in mind is a diminution this year of the cost to the taxpayer of teachers' superannuation, I am afraid that, in view of their declared attitude on the. Measure which was recently discussed in this House, such a discussion as is suggested would not at present be likely to lead to any useful results.
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that runny of us who voted for the Adjournment on the Superannuation Bill did so because we believed that if the Government would negotiate with the teachers at this stage, they would be able to secure relief in taxes without either breaking a pledge of the Government or creating discontent among the teachers?
I need hardly say that I would welcome very much any approach from the teachers in that direction.
56.
asked the President of the Board of Education whether any deductions have yet been made from the salaries of teachers in respect of the 5 per cent. levy for superannuation as recommended in the Geddes Report?
I am not aware that any such deductions have been made by local education authorities.