§ 36. Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that there will be an adequate supply of teachers to cope with the increased number of schools arising from the raising of the school-leaving age in 1970–71; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CroslandI would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 2nd December to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen).—[Vol. 737, c. 170.]
§ Mr. MorrisonHas the right hon. Gentleman taken into his calculations the fact that in this year, as in previous years, two and a half times more women students are entering college than male students?
§ Mr. CroslandYes, I have taken that into the calculations; but the hon. Member will realise that there was also a further increase in the number of male students going into the colleges this year.
§ Mr. BiffenIs the Secretary of State aware that in the Answer he gave me he said that 21,000 additional teachers would have to be recruited and that this could not but cause some temporary setbacks? In these circumstances, will he give the House an assurance that the raising of the school-leaving age in 1970–71 will not be bought either at the expense of educational standards or of the morale of the teaching profession?
§ Mr. CroslandThe hon. Member really must consult his right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Handsworth (Sir E. Boyle). It was the right hon. Gentleman who rightly announced this decision. When he announced it he made it perfectly clear that there must be some temporary setback. Of course there was bound to be. The difference between now and when the announcement was made is that the whole teacher supply position looks better now than it did a few years ago and, therefore, the setback will be considerably less serious.