§ 31. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will now give legislative effect to the Wheatley Report on matters relating to the teaching profession.
§ Mr. HannanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his reply is a scandal of the first order, and that this Report has been in his hand for over a year? Is not this just another example of the utter incompetence of the present Government in dealing with educational matters? Now that the right hon. Gentleman is faced with a threatened strike of teachers in Scotland as a result of his delay, despite the repeated warnings of my hon. Friends and myself, will he take steps to reassure the teachers on the question of the uncertificated members in their midst and give some reassurance to parents that the teachers will be as qualified as the doctors and dentists who examine their children? Will he treat this matter as one of great urgency?
§ Mr. NobleI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman that this is a scandal. He knows as well as most other hon. Members that this cannot be done without legislation, and there is no question of legislation this Session. I am sure that he does not expect me to anticipate next year's programme. The problems which the Committee had to take into consideration were the question of striking a proper balance between the requirements of the education service and the interests of the teaching profession. This it has done, and there is a great deal to be discussed before final decisions are reached. As for the strike, like many other hon. Members I regret threats of this sort, because they are bound to raise doubts in the minds of hon. Members and the public whether the teaching profession should be given wider powers to control its own affairs.
§ Mr. HannanOn a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.