HC Deb 15 May 1973 vol 856 cc1215-6
4. Mr. John E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration she is giving to the possible reorganisation of the present methods of determining salaries and conditions of service in the teaching profession.

Mrs. Thatcher

I have seen the arguments which have recently been put forward for negotiating in one forum teachers' conditions of service and their pay. I am always ready to consider changes which seem likely to command widespread support among the parties.

Mr. Hill

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Would it not be helpful in the context of an incomes policy if such matters as pensions and conditions of service were dealt with at the same time as pay? Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the future development of the European Economic Community will make it desirable that terms and conditions of service should be more readily comparable with a view to facilitating the movement of teachers between the countries and the ultimate harmoni-sation of those conditions?

Mrs. Thatcher

It would seem sensible to negotiate these two matters in one forum. However, I must point out that such a change would probably require legislation and so far I have not had a great demand for it. I shall be interested to see whether such a demand develops.

Mr. Stallard

Coming nearer home, may I ask the right hon. Lady, when she considers wages and conditions of teachers in future, to bear in mind the special problems of London teachers in finding accommodation and the effect that this is having on the education service in London?

Mrs. Thatcher

Burnham is the forum for considering wages. Local authorities have considerable powers to help with the problem of finding houses, and I hope that they use those powers.