§ 43. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now give the latest information on the teachers' wage negotiations.
Mr. Edward TaylorAs the hon. Member will be aware, the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee has agreed that teachers' salaries should be increased by 81 per cent. with effect from 1st April.
§ Mr. HamiltonThe organisations which represent the teachers are saying that this is an interim award and they feel that, bearing in mind the very serious shortage of teachers, particularly in secondary schools, they have been let down as in many cases private industry can give increases of 17 per cent.? Will the situation be rectified as quickly as possible?
Mr. TaylorThis is an agreement, and it is only fair to point out that Scottish teachers' pay has risen by about 25 per cent. in just over a year. It was a condition of the management side's offer that the next general review of salaries should not take effect earlier than 1st April next year.