HC Deb 09 June 1969 vol 784 cc957-8
59 and 60. Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a further statement about the position of teachers in teaching posts who have failed to re-register with the General Teaching Council;

(2) what further information he has now received from local education authorities regarding the number of teachers in teaching posts who have not re-registered with the General Teaching Council.

Mr. Millan

I have at present nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Gentleman on 21st May except that, according to the announcement of the General Teaching Council on 2nd June, 43,898 teachers had by then registered for the year starting on 1st April.—[Vol. 784, c. 85–6.]

Mr. MacArthur

Will not the hon. Gentleman now review the whole position? Will he consider simplifying the re-registration procedure and will he also consider the inequitable position of those teachers who were dismissed earlier this year?

Mr. Millan

The hon. Gentleman's first point could be taken up and no doubt will be taken up during the course of the review. Last year's registration is a separate matter and I have already given an answer about that.

Mrs. Ewing

Will not the hon. Gentleman now simply admit that the dismissal of qualified teachers who did not register was a mistake, and will he not have the courage to say so to everyone and get these teachers back where they are very much needed?

Mr. Millan

I do not think that it was a mistake.