HC Deb 15 April 1970 vol 799 cc1387-8
46. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scottish schools were receiving part-time education at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what percentage of this total was in the Glasgow area.

Mr. Ross

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Perth and East Perth- shire (Mr. MacArthur) on 22nd January and 10th February.—[Vol. 794, c. 190–1; Vol. 795, c. 317.]

Mr. Taylor

Is the Secretary of State aware that the answer to which he refers showed that the numbers of children receiving part-time education had more than doubled during the last 18 months? Is not this a critical situation? Will the Secretary of State take urgent steps to ascertain the present position?

Mr. Ross

I do not want to go back to local authorities every month to ask for this information. Knowing the interest of the hon. Member and of the Government in this matter, I have asked local education authorities to make a regular return of numbers of pupils on part-time education in January, May and September of each year.

Mr. Hugh D. Brown

While I appreciate my right hon. Friend's reply and recognise that almost double the number of young people are coming out of training colleges this year compared with the last year when the Opposition were in office, will he nevertheless recognise that there is still a serious, acute shortage of primary teachers in certain areas? In the current salary negotiations, will he at least consider increasing the special inducement from £100 to £200 for secondary teachers?

Mr. Ross

My hon. Friend will be aware that that last point is already on the cards. The Glasgow position is mainly one concerning primary teachers which, I think, will be more ready and earlier of solution. The numbers entering for the primary teaching qualification increased from 2,049 in 1964–65 to 3,213 this session. In places like Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire the problem is more seriously a secondary one, and we are examining ways of stepping up recruitment and deploying teachers more satisfactorily.