HC Deb 10 April 1973 vol 854 cc1115-8
8. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the increase in the cost of living since the last increase was made in the London teachers' allowance.

Mrs. Thatcher

London allowance is not calculated on the basis of the retail price index, which has risen by 20.2 per cent. It is calculated on the differential between the cost of living in London and elsewhere, using a special index devised in 1967.

Mr. Cox

Is not the Minister aware that, however it may be calculated, there has been an extremely large increase in the cost of living since the London teachers' allowance was last increased? Against that background, the offer of £15 a year to London teachers is derisory. For how much longer are we to see teachers generally and young teachers especially leaving London schools before the Minister faces the seriousness of the problem and allows free negotiation on the merits of the London teachers' allowance?

Mrs. Thatcher

The retail price index is taken into account in the ordinary pay negotiations of the teachers as it affects the whole country. From 1st November 1970 there have been two salary awards, a 10.8 per cent. increase overall from 1st April 1971 followed by a 9.6 per cent. overall increase on 1st April 1972. The London allowance is based on the differential between the increased cost of living in London and elsewhere, and it is on that basis that the formula resulted in the £15 increase, which is in fact a 12 per cent. increase.

Mr. Grylls

Will my right hon. Friend ask the Burnham Committee to consider special allowances for teachers in the Home Counties who find the extra cost of housing difficult to bear on a teacher's salary?

Mrs. Thatcher

The extra cost in the Home Counties comes in on the other side of the equation in a reduced differential between the cost of living elsewhere and in London. It would be open to the Burnham Committee to make such a recommendation if it wished.

Mr. Stallard

Will the Secretary of State come back to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Wands-worth, Central (Mr. Thomas Cox) and give us an insight into her intentions about the position facing the Inner London Education Authority because of the difficulties of young teachers in finding accommodation in inner London at rents they can afford?

Mrs. Thatcher

Some of the London areas either provide travelling allowances or make special arrangements for the allocation of council houses for their teachers. It is a matter for them. This is a problem that concerns not only teachers but a number of other people.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

Will my right hon. Friend carry out negotiations with those London boroughs like the London borough of Lewisham which are extremely unhelpful in providing housing for teachers? The position is made more difficult when they are running a campaign to reduce the number of houses for sale, even if teachers could afford to buy them.

Mrs. Thatcher

I am sure that the London borough of Lewisham will take account of the point made by my hon. Friend and I will make certain inquiries.

Mr. Hattersley

The Secretary of State has told the House of the traditional criteria for determining teachers' salary increases. Have not the Government laid before the House an order to make sure that those traditional criteria are subsumed by their policies concerning pay increases?

Mrs. Thatcher

No. The hon. Gentleman referred to traditional criteria for pay increases. The criteria to which I think he refers in the context of the Question relate to the London allowance, and it would be a matter for the Burnham Committee, if it wished, to take those as continuing. How they are to be dealt with against the global sum is again a matter for the Burnham Committee.

Mr. Hattersley

The Secretary of State must begin to answer at least some of the questions. May I put this question to her again? Is there not an order now laid before the House in the Government's name to make sure that if the normal criteria for London or anywhere else are agreed by Burnham, that shall be overruled by the requirements of the Government's pay policy?

Mrs. Thatcher

The London allowance is part of the global sum. It would not be open to the Burnham Committee or any other committee to come to a total settlement in excess of the global sum.