HC Deb 08 May 1956 vol 552 cc1002-3
31. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the terms of the replies made by the Educational Institute of Scotland and the local education authorities to his recent request for their views on the structure and functioning of the National Joint Council.

33. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has reached as the result of his consideration of possible changes in the machinery for negotiating teachers' salaries in Scotland.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

My right hon. Friend has carefully considered the suggestion made by the hon. Lady the Member for North Lanarkshire on 2nd December that, in effect, the Secretary of State's power to modify or reject recommendations of the National Joint Council should be abolished; he has also examined certain other proposals, involving changes in the composition of the Council and in procedure, some of which were made by the hon. Lady and some in another place on 8th December. My right hon. Friend obtained from the Association of County Councils, the Counties of Cities Association and the Educational Institute of Scotland their views on the issues raised, and he is in agreement with these bodies that the power of the Secretary of State and the composition of the National Joint Council should remain as at present and that no major changes in procedure are called for.

Mr. Hughes

Will the hon. Gentleman say how far his negotiations with the National Joint Council are preconditioned by salary awards in England?

Mr. Stewart

The negotiations take place in a very open frank manner. There is, of course, the link between what is spent on education in Scotland and what is spent in England, but, in fact, in Scotland we spend a good deal more on teachers' salaries in proportion to our grant than is spent in England.

Mr. Hughes

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Minister did not address his mind to my supplementary question, and apparently he did not understand it. May I repeat it?

Mr. Speaker

I think the hon. and learned Member had better put another Question on the Order Paper.