§ 4. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of qualified and experienced teachers dismissed from teaching to date for failure to register with the General Teaching Council, and the total number of unqualified teachers currently employed in the schools on conditional registration.
The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Bruce Milian)25 in the year to 31st March, 1969, and four since then. Five of the 29 were reinstated after subsequent registration. 341 conditionally registered teachers were employed in the schools in December.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneHow many teachers are currently under notice of dismissal, and how many qualified and experienced teachers does the hon. Gentleman have to dispose of by dismissal following this year's registration?
§ Mr. MacArthurWhat further discussions has the Secretary of State held about the need to simplify the re-registration procedure?
Mr. MilianThat will be dealt with in another Answer which my right hon. Friend will be making today to a Written Question by the hon. Gentleman.
§ 34. Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the shortage of secondary school teachers in 1972–73.
Mr. Milan1,800 on the basis of the use of pupil-teacher ratio of 14.5 to 1 for calculating the demand for teachers in secondary schools.
§ Mr. MacArthurIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a serious shortage in a significant year? What action will he take to enable local authorities to be ready for the raising of the school leaving age in 1972?
§ Mr. MillanThere is no single action that can be taken here. The hon. Gentleman knows that we are improving the recruitment of secondary teachers generally. On the question of getting a better analysis of the shortage by subject and area, we have a questionnaire currently being completed by schools which should give us better information about shortages than we have at present.
§ Mr. WoodburnWill my hon. Friend take note of the fact that there is reported to be a large return of scientists who went to America with the so-called "brain drain", and there are likely to be a number of scientists becoming redundant due to the restriction of our own research programme? Cannot they be recruited for schools?
Mr. MilianI am very anxious to recruit scientists and other teachers. However, I am not sure that there is a large body of scientists available in Scotland just to be recruited into the teaching profession. I am very anxious that we encourage the maximum number possible. We make special efforts at the universities to this end.