HC Deb 06 July 1976 vol 914 cc1142-5
2. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers were employed at the latest available date; how many he expects to be employed in three years' time; and how many were employed three, five and seven years ago.

The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Miss Margaret Jackson)

The following numbers of teachers were employed in maintained primary and secondary schools in England and Wales in the years for which the information is requested: in 1969, 333,000; in 1971, 368,000; in 1973, 410,000; in 1976, 459,000.

The recent White Paper on Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 6393) includes provision for the employment of 464,000 teachers in 1979.

Mr. Hardy

Is it not the case that since the Houghton Report unexpectedly large numbers of former teachers wish to return and have returned to the profession? Is this not a contribution to the risk of unemployment among new entrants to the profession? Therefore, will the Minister urge local authorities to give employment priority to new entrants in the next year or two while emphasising that the number of teachers will not be allowed to decline at a rate that matches the fall in the school population?

Miss Jackson

There is a great deal in what my hon. Friend said. As he may be aware, my right hon. Friend has suggested to local authorities on more than one occasion that they should seek to employ as many as possible of the teachers newly emerging from the training college, but these decisions are in the hands of local authorities.

Mr. Montgomery

If the Secretary of State, in looking after the interests of teachers, had shown just one-tenth of the zeal he has shown in trying to overrule the democratically-elected council on Tameside—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member knows that that matter is sub judice, and that he cannot refer to it.

Mr. Stokes

What advice is the Minister giving to teachers in teacher training colleges about career opportunities outside the teaching profession?

Miss Jackson

We are giving all the advice we can and all that we are qualified to give. We are not in the careers advisory business, but we are doing our utmost to make teachers aware of the alternatives for which their education suits them.

Miss Joan Lestor

Since the employment of teachers is primarily a matter for local authorities, what guidance are the Government giving to the authorities about the difficulties that many young teachers will face in leaving colleges of education unable to do their probationary year in teaching, and the disadvantages to those teachers when they are finally competing with people leaving colleges of education who will be doing their probationary year?

Miss Jackson

My right hon. Friend has done his utmost to encourage local authorities—not with the total support of all the teacher unions—to employ as many teachers straight out of training college as they can. However, it is not necessary for training teachers to take their probationary year immediately after leaving college. In the past it has often been the custom for 20 per cent. of teachers not to go straight into teaching in maintained schools. Although some may find that a disadvantage in later years, it has always been the case that local authorities may make the choice between new people leaving training college and people of greater experience.

14. Dr. Edmund Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about the latest position in respect of the employment prospects of entrants to the teaching profession this year.

15. Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give an up-to-date estimate of the number of vacancies in teaching positions available in September for those qualifying from teacher training colleges in the summer.

17. Mr. Bryan Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he is taking to improve the job prospects of students qualifying in colleges of education in 1976.

Mr. Mulley

In the interests of national economic recovery the Government asked local authorities to limit their employment of teachers in 1976–77 to the number sufficient to maintain existing staffing standards. This policy allows for a small growth in the size of the teacher force. Uncertainty about trends in wastage from, and re-entry to, the profession makes it impossible at present to give a detailed assessment of employment prospects. These should become clearer when I have received returns from all local authorities about their staffing intentions for the next school year, but I think it probable that a substantial number of newly trained teachers will not get appointments this year. I have urged local education authorities to give priority to newly qualified teachers in making appointments. My Department is considering the possibility of offering further training in certain subjects where there is still a shortage of teachers. Regulations are being prepared which, by providing compensation for teachers who may be retired early in the interests of the efficiency of the education service, may assist with employment opportunities for some younger teachers.

Mr. Speaker

I appeal to the three hon. Members whose Questions are being answered and the Minister replying to be as brief as possible, because it will soon be Question Time for the Prime Minister.

Dr. Marshall

Has my right hon. Friend given any guidance or instructions to any local education authority to employ fewer teachers next September, as compared with last September?

Mr. Mulley

I have not given any such instruction. Indeed, I have no power to do so, even if I wished. The circular said that the standard should be maintained.

Mr. Freud

Will the Minister now reconsider his decision not to make available the marginal increase in money that it would cost to employ teachers rather than let them claim unemployment benefit and rot on the scrap heap?

Mr. Mulley

The hon. Gentleman should know that I have no powers to pay any money whatever to local education authorities except through the rate support grant, and I have no control over how they would use such money if it were paid to them.

Mr. Davies

What kind of response is my right hon. Friend getting to his eminently sensible suggestion that some teachers nearing retiring age ought to consider retiring earlier, on reasonable terms, in order that people qualifying newly at colleges would be able to get employment?

Mr. Mulley

This matter is being actively pursued in negotiations between the employers, local education authorities, and the teachers' unions, and I am hoping that, as a result, some progress will shortly be made in this direction.