§ 36. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, in his suggested scheme of salaries for promoted teachers in Scotland, he places them at a disadvantage with those holding equivalent status in England and Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThe salaries proposed in the draft Teachers' Salaries (Scotland) Regulations follow precisely the recommendations which my right hon. Friend has received from the National Joint Council. He does not accept that in general the salaries proposed for promoted teachers in Scotland will have the effect stated by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. RankinIs the hon. Gentleman aware that promoted teachers feel this way regarding salaries despite what he says? Does he realise that the creation of differentials like this regarding promoted posts for teaching in Scotland acts as a pressure point in attracting teachers from Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. MacphersonI think I can demonstrate to the hon. Gentleman that there is not much ground for promoted teachers to feel in this way. If we are having separate negotiations for a profession with a very complicated wage structure, we must expect that there will not be exact parallels between England and Scotland at all levels. Were that so, we might as well have one set of negotiations.