§ 33. Mr. Heathcoat Amoryasked the Minister of Education whether she will ensure that all ex-Service students who have been found suitable and accepted for a teachers' training course shall, if they so desire, be employed temporarily as supernumerary teachers pending the start of their course.
§ Miss WilkinsonI have already made suggestions on this matter to local education authorities, and am sending the hon. Member a copy of the circular which I have issued, but I cannot require authorities to offer employment to these candidates without regard to local circumstances.
Mr. AmoryAs some of these people are in fact dropping out, and as their loss will be a great pity from the point of view of the teaching profession, will the Minister do her utmost to encourage authorities to adopt as farsighted a policy as possible in this matter?
§ Miss WilkinsonI am sorry, but we have had to work out the policy for this in the very difficult circumstances of supply, as I have explained to the House on several occasions, and I am afraid that this is the best way we can deal with the matter.