HC Deb 30 January 1969 vol 776 cc1516-7
34. Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now raise the amount which a post graduate with a grant from his Department, the Science Research Council, or the Social Science Research Council, is allowed to earn before any deductions are made from his grant.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

No, Sir, but I will consider this proposal when postgraduate student awards are next reviewed.

Mr. Pardoe

Can the hon. Lady say exactly what the cost would be of doing this, bearing in mind the fact that most of the postgraduates concerned would be careful to ensure—indeed, are already careful to do this—that they do not earn above the limit?

Mrs. Williams

I cannot answer my hon. Friends supplementary question because the three groups of regulations—and this applies to the Department of Education and Science as well as the two Research Councils—have just been brought into line and allow for an additional increase in the earnings of those who teach in school or university.

35. Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it a condition of grants from the Science Research Council to post-graduate students that they should do part-time teaching in the senior schools near their universities.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

This brings me to the rest of the Question.

I welcome any help that postgraduate students can give to the schools. The Science Research Council regulations now allow students to supplement awards by undertaking teaching in schools for up to one day a week. I do not consider that this should be made compulsory.

Mr. Pardoe

Is the Minister aware that this was a specific recommendation of the Appointments Board which, if implemented, would substantially help to overcome the shortage of science teachers in schools?

Mrs. Williams

The difficulty is that some of the award holders are not near schools. A further difficulty is that there is some evidence, from earlier experiments, to show that those compelled to do teaching do not make very good teachers. Nevertheless, we will look at this matter closely at the next review.