§ 29. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage Scottish teachers to teach overseas for periods of a few years, and to encourage local authorities to make arrangements for secondment and resettlement.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonMy right hon. Friend has been associated with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education in establishing the special unit in the Ministry of Education designed to assist in recruiting teachers for overseas posts and in resettling them on their return. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also written to education authorities and other school managers drawing their attention to the importance of supplying teachers to serve overseas and the advantages likely to accrue from it and inviting them to co-operate in seconding members of their staffs who wish to undertake this work.
§ 30. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of the staff of the Scottish Education Department have been seconded to the Ministry of Education Unit dealing with the recruitment and resettlement of teachers going overseas.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonNone, Sir. But where Scottish teachers are involved the unit works in close association with the Scottish Education Department.
§ Mr. ThomsonIn view of the importance of persuading teachers to go abroad, and in view of the fact that they are among our best ambassadors in these days, would the Minister agree that there ought to be Scottish officials on this unit, since the Scottish education system is so substantially different from that of England?
§ Mr. MacphersonThis is a very small unit and it is in its early stages. We are quite satisfied at present with the degree of co-operation available between the two Departments.