HC Deb 18 March 1965 vol 708 cc1456-8
9. Mr. Peter Walker

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the crash programme for teacher recruitment.

67. Mr. Shore

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his plans for a rapid increase in teacher recruitment.

78. Mr. Boston

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his new plans to increase teaching recruitment rapidly.

81. Mr. Jackson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he intends to obtain a rapid increase in teacher recruitment.

82. Mr. Stones

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his further plans for teacher recruitment.

84. Mr. James Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further plans he has for a rapid increase of teacher recruitment.

85. Mr. Ogden

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his further plans for teacher recruitment.

86. Mr. Dunn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement on his plans for teacher recruitment.

87. Mr. Walden

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for a rapid increase in teacher recruitment.

88. Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further proposals he has for increasing the recruitment of teachers.

Mr. Crosland

I hope to be able to make a statement before Easter.

Mr. Walker

I look forward to the right hon. Gentleman's "Easter offering". In the recent statement the right hon. Gentleman made on the subject of higher education, he said that he was hoping to increase the number of places and double it in 10 years, compared with the previous plan to treble it in 12 years. Can he say what he expects to achieve in the 12-year period?

Mr. Crosland

I made no statement about a 12-year period at all, and nor did the previous Government. Their target for teacher-training places and the higher one I announced went up only to the year 1973–74. The purpose of the statement which I hope to make before Easter is quite different and far more urgent—to try to get some extra teachers before 1970. That is the crux of the matter.

Mr. Park

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that there are many people in their twenties and thirties at present in other occupations who would be pleased to join the teaching profession were it possible for added financial security to be given to them and their families during their period of training? Will my right hon. Friend look very carefully at these points and consider making proposals to help in the solution of this problem?

Mr. Crosland

This is one of the questions very much in my mind.

Sir Rolf Dudley Williams

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind when considering this statement, especially with reference to the question put to him, that this is probably an election year?