HC Deb 24 April 1969 vol 782 cc635-6
13. Mr. van Straubenzee

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will institute an inquiry into the training of teachers.

Mr. Edward Short

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) on 27th June last.—[Vol. 767, c. 111–2.]

Mr. van Straubenzee

Did not that reply, which I have clearly in mind, show a lack of understanding of the problems arising about the training of teachers? If the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to reconstitute his National Advisory Council, is this not the obvious subject-matter for the next major inquiry?

Mr. Short

Reconstituting the National Advisory Council is an entirely different question. The hon. Gentleman asked for an inquiry. There have been so many problems recently that it would be a good thing to allow teacher training to settle down for a while.

I should be willing to reconstitute the Advisory Council, but I feel that it would be better to do it in the context of the General Teaching Council which I hope to set up next year.