§ 19. Mr. Danceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that posts will be available for the increased number of people qualifying as teachers; whether it is estimated that the provision of new schools and the reduction in the size of classes will keep pace with the increase in the number of people entering the teaching profession; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Edward Short)I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane) on 5th December last. As to the second part of the Question, I do not think that accommodation problems will prevent authorities from making good use of the extra teachers.—[Vol. 774, c. 522–3.]
§ Mr. DanceIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in Bromsgrove, there is an excellent teacher training college and that recently many teachers came to my "surgery" and said that they were very perturbed and confused about the future of the profession?
§ Mr. ShortThe only confusion comes from people like the hon. Gentleman, who are deliberately spreading confusion, on 1507 this matter. I have spelled this out in the clearest terms. If the local authorities employ all the teachers which they said that they were going to employ when they negotiated the rate support grant, all the 13,000 additional teachers in September will get jobs.
§ Mr. DanceOn a point of order. In view of that very unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter as soon as possible.