HC Deb 14 May 1953 vol 515 cc1399-400
29. Mr. A. Roberts

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers trained at training colleges and certificated are unemployed.

Mr. Pickthorn

Of a total of 12,501 teachers of all kinds who completed their training at recognised training colleges and university departments of education in the summer of 1952, 102 men and 68 women were on the books of the appointments board jointly administered by the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Education Committees as being without teaching posts on 1st April last, the latest date for which complete information is available.

Mr. J. Johnson

Is it not a disgraceful thing that there should be so many classes of 40 and 50 when we have an unemployed list of nearly 200 teachers who have not got positions anywhere in any county?

Mr. Pickthorn

I think that almost all the unemployment arises from lack of mobility, because people, for one reason or another, are unwilling to go to anything but a small part of the country, or because people, for some reason or another, are unwilling to do anything but a very particular kind of teaching. I think that is what accounts for the unemployment; I have not got the proportion worked out, but I think I am not far wrong in saying that it is 1.4 per cent., and I think it arises in the way I have suggested.

Mrs. Slater

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary how much of the unemployment amongst women teachers is due to the fact that some local authorities have cut down the complement of women teachers?

Mr. Pickthorn

I am sorry, but I am afraid that I cannot give a specific answer.