§ 28. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total graduate intake into teacher training colleges in the 1966–67 session; and what were the corresponding figures for 1964–65 and 1965–66.
§ Mr. MillanAbout 1,180 in session 1966–67 compared with 1,107 in 1965–66 and 1,131 in 1964–65.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that these figures are still inadequate if we are to meet the target of raising the school-leaving age by 1970? Can the hon. Gentleman say how his negotiations with the teachers' organisations are progressing with regard to the introduction of non-graduate men to primary school teaching?
§ Mr. MillanI agree that there is a general shortage of teachers and that this is likely to persist for some time. The whole question of recruitment is now with the General Teaching Council.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownWhile recognising that this is an area where it is still pertinent to talk about 13 wasted years, bearing in mind that it takes three years to train a teacher, may I ask my right hon. Friend for an assurance that urgent consideration will be given to the recommendations of the Roberts Committee, which will at least equalise the scarcity of teachers resulting from the policy followed by our friends opposite?
§ Mr. MillanWe shall have to undertake discussions on the Roberts Committee recommendations with both the teachers' organisations and the local 1713 authority associations. We look on this whole question as one of considerable urgency.