§ 7. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many unqualified teachers are now teaching in Scottish schools compared with the figure for 1st January, 1950.
§ Miss HerbisonOn 1st October, 1950, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of teachers in education authority schools who had not acquired a recognised qualification was 828, as compared with 900 a year earlier.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs my hon. Friend aware that this decrease will cause considerable satisfaction in Scotland? Meanwhile, what further steps are being taken to reduce this number much further?
§ Miss HerbisonMy hon. Friend may know that a special committee was set up. We already have a report from it, and my right hon. Friend and the Department are considering what steps we can take next.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartAre we to take it that the reduction in the number of unqualified teachers means an increase in the number of qualified teachers adequate to meet the needs of Scottish schools?
§ Miss HerbisonIt means that during this year we have needed fewer unqualified teachers than we needed previously. It is as simple as that.
§ Mr. William RossHow many of these 828 have no intention of carrying on as teachers?
§ Miss HerbisonIt would be very difficult to give that information, but perhaps I may add that many of these uncertificated teachers have high academic qualifications and that among their number are teachers who have a certificate from England but are regarded as uncertificated in Scotland.