HC Deb 20 March 1974 vol 870 cc1013-4
10. Mr. Monro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet the Educational Institute of Scotland.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Robert Hughes)

My right hon. Friend has informed the Educational Institute of Scotland that he is willing to arrange for a Scottish Minister to meet it and the other main teacher associations shortly.

Mr. Monro

May I welcome the hon. Gentleman to the Government Front Bench? As he knows, the designation scheme is due for review this summer. When he meets the EIS, will he be able to announce a new and attractive scheme agreed by the Salaries Committee which may go some way to help the maldistribution of teachers in the west of Scotland?

Mr. Hughes

The designation scheme is at present under consideration, and it will be discussed with the associations.

Mr. Hunter

When my right hon. Friend meets the EIS will he tell it that he has acceded to its request that children it secondary schools should be allowed to leave on their sixteenth birthday if they so desire?

Mr. Hughes

My hon. Friend has a later Question on this matter. There are major advantages in having fixed leaving dates. Obviously this matter can be looked at, but the educational advantages should not be disregarded.

Mr. MacArthur

When the Secretary of State meets the institute will he tell it, us and the country whether he seriously intends to carry through the Labour Party's eductionally damaging threats to the grant aided schools?

Mr. Hughes

There are no educationally damaging threats in the Labour Party's programme. When we meet the teachers' associations I am sure that the common theme running through our discussions will be how we can mutually serve the interests of the children in the Scottish education system.

Mr. Sillars

Will my hon. Friend make sure that Ayrshire is not excluded from the new designation scheme?

Mr. Hughes

That is a matter that I should like to discuss, but I cannot commit myself at this stage.