§ Q5. Mr. David Steelasked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretaries of State for Education and Science, for Scotland and for Wales on the instructions which they give to their representatives on the Burnham Committee; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friends already co-ordinate their policies on all matters of common interest, including teachers' pay. The three Burnham Committees and the Scottish Teachers' Salaries Committees are, however, separate and independent negotiating bodies, each properly concerned with its own field.
§ Mr. SteelThe last part of that answer will be regarded as significant. As they are all independent bodies, why is the management side of each body stuck at an offer of 7 per cent.? Is this not a directive from the Treasury? Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an undertaking that these independent bodies will examine independently each wage claim on its merits?
§ The Prime MinisterThey are independent bodies, and that is their job. As 1675 there is disagreement between management and teachers, these matters have now gone to arbitration.