§ 32. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the concern among university teachers aft his decision that the implementation of 543 the new salary scales shall be deferred until 1st August; and if he will reconsider this decision.
§ Mr. PowellThe increases run from the beginning of the next academic year, which the Government have decided is in all the circumstances the right starting date.
§ Mr. RobinsonIs the Financial Secretary aware that the satisfaction derived from this new salary scale is almost totally destroyed by the decision to delay its coming into effect until fifteen months after the claim was first put in? Will he take into account not only the hardship being suffered by university teachers today, but also the fact that more and more teachers, especially of science and technology, are leaving the profession to go into industry every month?
§ Mr. PowellYes, Sir. As the hon. Member indicates, it was the problem of maintaining the level of recruitment to this profession which was the main factor under consideration in the review of salaries. I think that that has been met by the announcement of the introduction of the new rates from the beginning of the next academic year.