§ 34. Mr. Shephardasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware of the serious shortage of teachers in the elementary schools of the Nottinghamshire local education authority; that this shortage is affecting the efficiency of the service; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this deficiency.
The President of the Board of Education {Mr. Butler)Local shortages of teachers are admittedly more difficult to meet than they used to be, because a higher proportion of the teaching staff consists of married women and teachers staying on beyond retiring age, who can- 920 not be transferred away from their homes. My Department has sought, by a system of allocating newly-qualified teachers to the service of a particular authority, to secure a fair distribution of new mobile recruits. This procedure is continuing, and meanwhile, as my hon. Friend will see from Circular 1654, which I am sending him, I have acted on one recommendation of the McNair Committee's Report, which will have the effect, in due course, of widening the field of recruitment for teachers.
§ Mr. ShephardWill my right hon. Friend consult with the Minister of Labour, with a view to removing the age restriction on women who wish to enter the teaching profession; and will he persuade the Minister of Labour to desist from calling up women students once they have commenced their training?
§ Mr. ButlerEverything that has been done by the Minister of Labour in this respect has been done in consultation with me and with my full agreement. Naturally, I would like to get more teachers but I must have regard to the national needs at the present time.