HC Deb 22 March 1923 vol 161 cc2732-3
26. Mr. PALING

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can state the number of certificated teachers, uncertificated teachers, and supplementary teachers who are at present unemployed?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Edward Wood)

I regret I do not possess the information asked for by the hon. Member.

34. Mr. HARRIS

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any scheme to deal with the large number of teachers now unemployed; whether he will consult the Minister of Labour with a view to include them in his insurance scheme; and whether he will consider allocating some of the money made available by the voluntary acceptance by teachers of a 5 per cent. reduction of their salaries towards the cost of an insurance scheme?

Mr. E. WOOD

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and I have no information which leads me to suppose that the number of unemployed teachers is very large, though it is no doubt somewhat larger than usual. I have no reason to believe that the teaching profession generally would desire to be included within the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Act. I am not prepared to undertake the legislation that would be necessary to give effect to the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.

Mr. HARRIS

As the right hon. Gentleman has no scheme, will he do his best to prevent untrained uncertificated teachers being brought into the teaching profession in any scheme put forward by the London County Council or other authorities?

Mr. WOOD

No. I cannot enter into that large question by way of supplementary answer. My hon. Friend knows the difficulties.

Mr. SHINWELL

How can the right hon. Gentleman state that there is not a large number of teachers unemployed when he is not in possession of the statistics, according to his own statement; and, in view of the fact that these persons have very special qualifications, will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour in some way to utilise their services?

Mr. WOOD

What I said was that I had no information which leads me to suppose that the number was very large.

Mr. SHINWELL

On what grounds does the right hon. Gentleman base his view that there is not a large number of teachers unemployed when the available statistics are not in his possession?

Mr. WOOD

It is the absence of exact statistics of the unemployed that leads me to doubt the number.

Mr. SHINWELL

In view of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member had better put his question down.