HC Deb 21 November 1973 vol 864 cc1329-30
19. Mr. John Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the shortage of teachers in Lanarkshire.

Mr. Monro

I am concerned that there is a general shortage of secondary school teachers in Lanarkshire, and I have arranged to discuss the situation with representatives of the education authority on 10th December.

Mr. Smith

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that this is a desperately serious problem? Is he aware that the county of Lanarkshire is 300 teachers short and that the shortage is badly distributed, so that certain areas such as Shotts and Chryston are bearing a very heavy share of the burden arising from this shortage of teachers?

Will the hon. Gentleman look into the need to help the county with a view to distributing teachers to priority areas, and will he immediately increase the allowance to teachers in designated schools?

Mr. Monro

I accept that there is a serious situation in Lanarkshire—certainly the worst in Scotland. That is why I shall be glad to meet the authority on 10th December. I am not able to increase the number of designated posts this session because, as the hon. Gentleman knows, I have already increased the number to Lanarkshire and there are no more available in the present session.

Mr. Lawson

Can not the hon. Gentleman pay more attention to the question of a better distribution of the teachers in a given area? He will recall that he has already pointed out that part of the problem in this area is the maldistribution of teachers. Is it impossible for the Scottish Office and the Department of Education and Science to do something about this problem of maldistribution, even if at the moment we cannot find any more teachers?

Mr. Monro

I accept what the hon. Gentleman says. The situation is due largely to maldistribution. But within an authority area it is for the authority to try to come to some understanding with the teachers, even for temporary movements to schools in the greatest need. These are points which, along with any other inducements such as housing, I shall discuss with the authority next month.