HC Deb 22 November 1951 vol 494 cc544-5
15. Mr. Peter Remnant

asked the Minister of Education whether she will cause an inquiry to be made into the inadequate remuneration of graduate teachers.

Miss Horsbrugh

No, Sir. The current salary scales for teachers are those recommended by the Burnham Committee, and came into force as recently as 1st April last.

Mr. Remnant

Is the Minister aware that graduates are coming into the teaching profession in ever-decreasing numbers, partly because the salaries in other professions are greater and partly because the existing graduate teacher salaries are now lower than they were before the war, if we take into account the decrease in the value of the £, and would she call the attention of the Burnham Committee to this matter?

Miss Horsbrugh

I am aware of many of those facts, but I think my hon. Friend will agree that it is better for the discussions to take place within the Burnham Committee.

Mr. Hamilton

Does the right hon. Lady agree that it would be dangerous to differentiate between graduate teachers and non-graduate teachers in this connection?

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Could my right hon. Friend not approach the Burnham Committee in this matter? Is it not monstrous that graduate teachers with 25 years' service should still be receiving an income of about only £650 a year? Surely that is a matter for the Burnham Committee to consider?

Mr. S. S. Awbery

Is the right hon. Lady aware that there is a great shortage of graduate science teachers because they have been offered greater remuneration in other employment outside the teaching profession? Will the right hon. Lady give earnest and serious attention to the problem of graduate teachers' salaries?

Miss Horsbrugh

I will certainly give attention to this matter, but we must realise that these scales were decided by the Burnham Committee in April. While watching the result, we should realise that the Committee had responsibility at that time.