asked the Minister for Education if he will give urgent consideration to the case in equity for sanctioning the making by vocational education committees of ex-gratia payments to part-time vocational teachers available and willing to work on special leave days granted to wholetime teachers, such as midterm breaks, days allowed in lieu of enrolment, etc., as the increasing frequency of such leave days is causing grave financial hardship to the section of the teaching profession least able to bear it.

I am not in a position to depart from the principle that part-time teachers employed by vocational education committees may be remunerated only in respect of actual teaching service rendered.