HC Deb 30 April 1969 vol 782 cc247-9W
Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken following the reporting to his Department by the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions in accordance with the Further Education Regulations of the dismissal for miscon- duct of seven teachers at the Guildford College of Art.

Mr. Denis Howell

The regulations require local education authorities to report to my right hon. Friend when a teacher's employment is terminated on grounds of misconduct or conviction of a criminal offence. I am advised that the conduct which led the Surrey local education authority to terminate the contracts of the seven teachers at the Guildford School of Art did not constitute misconduct within the meaning of the regulations.

Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what communications he has received from the Surrey County Council in pursuance of Section 68 of the Education Act, 1944, concerning the dismissal of teachers at the Guildford College of Art; and if he will publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT;

(2) if, in the light of the recent decision of the Industrial Tribunal in the case of Mr. Robens that no misconduct took place before his dismissal by Surrey County Council for that offence, he will now take action under Section 68 of the Education Act, 1944, to ensure that Surrey County Council ceases to act unreasonably in carrying out its responsibilities for further education;

(3) how many representations in accordance with Section 68 of the Education Act, 1944, he has received concerning the action of Surrey County Council in dismissing seven teachers from the Guildford College of Art;

(4) if he will now institute an inquiry under Section 93 of the Education Act, 1944, into the conduct of the Surrey County Council in the field of further education, with particular reference to their decision to dismiss members of staff at Guildford College of Art.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Section 68 of the Education Act, 1944, enables my right hon. Friend in certain circumstances to direct a local education authority as to the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty conferred or imposed by or under the Education Acts. Section 93 of the Education Act, 1944, enables my right hon. Friend to hold an inquiry for the purpose of the exercise of any of his specific powers or duties under those Acts. While my right hon. Friend has received many representations urging him to establish a statutory inquiry into the dismissal of members of staff from the Guildford School of Art, none of his powers or duties under those Acts is exercisable in relation to the appointment and dismissal of teachers in maintained institutions of further education, who are appointed under the Local Government Acts, not the Education Acts, and he is therefore not in a position to do so.

Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many visits his inspectors have paid to the Guildford College of Art in the past 12 months; and if he will publish their reports in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

A central record is not kept, but a dozen occasions are known when one or more H.M. Inspectors have visited the School in the past year. Informal visits are part of the normal functions of inspectors. There have been no formal reports in the period.