HC Deb 10 May 1967 vol 746 c1492
27. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he now has to alleviate the shortage of teachers, particularly in Glasgow.

Mr. Millan

I cannot add at present to the reply given on 5th April to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Wright), except that my right hon. Friend is expecting shortly to meet members of Glasgow Education Authority to discuss the whole problem.—[Vol. 744, c 241.]

Mr. Taylor

Are not the Government guilty of appalling complacency in this matter? How long has the Secretary of State been considering the recommendations of the Roberts Committee? When can we have a decision and when can we have action?

Mr. Millan

I have answered Questions about the Roberts Report before. The hon. Gentleman knows that that Report is still under consideration. However, he has not listened to my Anwer. I have just told him that the Secretary of State is shortly to meet the Glasgow Education Authority to discuss its problems.

Mr. Hannan

On this issue of the shortage of teachers, does my hon. Friend recall the Departmental reports of 1951, 1953 and 1955, the Appleton Report on the shortage of mathematics and science teachers in 1955, and the Knox Report of 1957–58? Against whom should the charge of complacency about the shortage of teachers rest?

Mr. Millan

I am not sure that offhand I can remember the details of all those Reports. I know that we have had a shortage of teachers for a very long time and that we are now taking every step open to us to try to remedy it.