§ 69. Mr. SUGDENasked the President of the Board of Education, in view of the rapidly diminishing supply of male teachers and the failure of the new scales of pay and conditions of service now obtaining to attract men to the teaching profession, if he will state what steps he proposes to take to remedy this lack of supply?
Mr. LEWISI do not think it is correct to say that the supply of male teachers is rapidly diminishing, and it is certainly premature to say that the new scales of pay and conditions of service are failing to attract men to the teaching profession. At the present 1442 moment there is an increase in the number of male recruits for the teaching profession, both at the initial and final stages. The Board, however, are carefully watching the situation.
§ Mr. SUGDENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the National Union of Teachers substantiate every fact I have presented to him?
Mr. LEWISI am not aware of that. My information is that the number of male recruits has actually increased.
§ Mr. SUGDENThat is inaccurate, Sir.