HC Deb 20 February 1964 vol 689 cc1373-4
9. Mrs. White

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made with the consideration of negotiating machinery for the remuneration of teachers.

11. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made with his discussions with the parties concerned on the negotiating machinery for teachers' salaries.

Sir E. Boyle

I hope, by the end of this month, to put proposals to the local authority and teacher associations concerned so that joint discussions can be resumed.

Mrs. White

Is the Minister aware that this will be welcomed? Would not he agree that a very long time has elapsed since what is called the first round of discussions, which I think was concluded by midsummer last year? There has been a growing feeling within the profession that, if it is to obtain the fundamental review of salary structures which has been agreed upon, this matter of negotiating machinery must be concluded very rapidly indeed, and there is a growing impression that the Minister has been running away from it.

Sir E. Boyle

I can assure the hon. Lady and the House that it remains the Government's firm intention that new arrangements for settling teachers' salaries shall be introduced in time to negotiate salary scales to replace the present scales which are operative to March, 1965.

Mr. Lubbock

Does the Minister recognise that if there is to be this fundamental review, which the Burnham Committee would have undertaken, much more time will be necessary and that normally, in order to make a salary increase effective in 1965, discussion should start at Easter this year, and that it is therefore very important that this new negotiating machinery should be set up at once? Is it not true that the Minister has not seen representatives of the teachers since last July, and is he satisfied that adequate evidence has been taken from them as to the form of this new negotiating machinery?

Sir E. Boyle

I did not complete what is called the first round quite as soon as last July. During the first round no basic pattern emerged which promised to be acceptable at once to all the interests, and that is why it has taken some time to consider how best to present the issues for the second round.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Will it be the responsibility of the Minister to bring to the notice of any new negotiating body the Newsom recommendation concerning special allowances to bring about staffing stability in certain areas?

Sir E. Boyle

I think it would be making a very big assumption to say at this stage what will be my responsibility in any new arrangements.