HC Deb 06 May 1975 vol 891 cc1190-1
2 . Mrs. Renee Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many graduates completed teacher training after graduation each year from 1970–74 ; and if he is satisfied with the present trend.

Mr. Prentice

The numbers successfully completing postgraduate courses from 1970 to 1973 were 6,077, 7,031, 8,519 and 9,658. The estimated figure for 1974 is 9,500. I am concerned that the numbers of graduates entering training in 1974 and applying for entry in 1975 have fallen.

Mrs. Short

I thank my right hon. Friend for that information. Can he make any comment about the statement in the Black Paper that very few good graduates who are trained find employment in comprehensive schools? Presumably these graduates are employed in comprehensive schools.

Mr. Prentice

Some of them are employed in comprehensive schools and some are still employed in selective schools. What I am concerned about is that in the past year or two the numbers have fallen. I hope that the new salary scales and better career prospects arising from the implementation of the Houghton Report will lead to an increase in recruitment, particularly in the shortage subjects such as science and mathematics.

Mr. Lane

For the sake of maintaining a fair balance of resources in teacher training and throughout higher education, will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the growing alarm in the universities that they are in danger of receiving second-class treatment, a feeling which is heightened by the difficulties being experienced by university teachers in reaching a just settlement of their claim?

Mr. Prentice

These fears are not justified. The Houghton Report made the proposal that there should be broad comparability between salaries in universities and in other sectors of higher education. I accept that in principle. I shall be answering more detailed Questions on this later.