HC Deb 17 July 1969 vol 787 cc871-2
25. Mr. Lane

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made in his further consultations with teachers' organisations about salary negotiations; and whether he will now make a further statement on future procedure within the Burnham machinery.

Mr. Edward Short

I am always ready to see teachers' organisations, separately or together, about salary negotiating machinery and procedures, but I have had no recent consultations.

Mr. Lane

I appreciate that the ball is not directly in the right hon. Gentleman's court. Will he be ready to do all he can to lubricate the Burnham machinery and get rid of the procedural friction?

Mr. Short

I told the teachers' organisations that if they will come to me with agreed proposals about procedure I shall be happy to agree to them.

Mr. Peter M. Jackson

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the considerable sense of frustration which has recently been expressed by members of the A.T.T.I.? Would he consider setting up separate negotiating machinery for teachers in technical colleges and colleges of commerce?

Mr. Short

As the A.T.T.I. claim has gone to arbitration, the less I say about it at this moment the better.