HC Deb 12 June 1969 vol 784 cc1656-7
28. Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of full-time qualified women teachers in English and Welsh primary schools on 1st April, 1966 left the grant-aided sector of education during the succeeding 12 months; and what is the corresponding figure for men teachers.

Miss Bacon

In this period 12.3 per cent. of the women and 3.9 per cent. of the men qualified teachers left service in the maintained primary schools.

Mr. Biffen

Does not the quite startling dissimilarity between those two figures for men and women respectively have considerable implications for the financing of teacher-training, and indeed for the whole question of teacher salaries, and lend further currency to the argument for a debate on the Early Day Motion proposed by the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on the whole question of the structure of teachers salaries?

Miss Bacon

I do not think it is very surprising, having regard to the fact that many women leave on getting married, and leave to have children. But a great many of them return later to service in schools. In the 12 months to 1st February, 1969, 4,823 returned full- or part-time to the primary schools, so it does not mean that because they leave they do not come back into the service at a later date.

Mr. Pardoe

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the proportion of women who return is very small compared with those who leave? Will she tell us what was the average length of service of women leaving, and of men leaving?

Miss Bacon

I could not without notice give the figures for which the hon. Gentleman has asked, but I think it is clear—it has always been so—that more women than men leave in any year but a considerable number of them come back later in life as married women teachers.

Dr. Summerskill

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that in spite of those figures the Government will continue to support the principle of equal pay in the teaching profession?

Miss Bacon

Yes, Sir. I can give my hon. Friend that assurance.