§ 27. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards a new 438 agreement on teachers' salaries in the Burnham Committee.
§ 28. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the representations which he has received from teachers organisations about the suspension of negotiations on teachers' salaries.
§ The Under-Secretory of State for Education and Science (Mr. Denis Howell)I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Paddington, South (Mr. Scott) and to my hon. Friend on 23rd March.—[Vol. 743, c. 1903–4.]
§ Mr. NewensIs my hon. Friend aware that the Government's prices and incomes policy contained no provision for the suspension of negotiations but that this is what has happened in the case of teachers, and it is causing considerable resentment among teachers? Is he aware of the urgency of improving the basic scale for teachers, particularly the lower end, if the teacher shortage is to be satisfactorily overcome?
§ Mr. HowellMy hon. Friend will know that my right hon. Friend had a meeting recently with the Burnham Committee, which, in the circumstances, was very agreeable. My hon. Friend will be particularly glad to know that a formal meeting of the Burnham Committee is likely within the month.
§ Sir E. BoyleBut is the hon. Gentleman not aware that not only the White Paper but also the Remuneration of Teachers Act, 1965, contained no provision that negotiations could take place only with the gracious permission of the Secretary of State? Would he not agree that if successive Governments had tried to negotiate the new machinery on that basis they would have met with very strong opposition?
§ Mr. HowellThose are considerations which have been expressed to my right hon. Friend and were expressed at the meeting to which I referred.