§ 19. Mr. Guy Barnettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Cockcroft report on school mathematics.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe Government welcome the report, and we hope that it will be widely read by all of those with an interest in the teaching of mathematics. We shall be considering the recommendations directed to us.
§ Mr. BarnettI hope that the right hon. Gentleman has paid great attention to the report. Does he recognise that one of the issues raised in the report directly concerns him? I refer to the number of qualified mathematics teachers available. Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is no solution to attempt to attract mathematicians to the profession by paying them more than other teachers? That would be divisive of the profession. Does he accept that we must increase the amount of training and re-training for mathematics teachers? The Secretary of State's predecessor expressed concern about that two years ago. What have the Government done since then to deal with the problem?
§ Sir Keith JosephI cannot accept, Mr. Teacher—[Laughter.] I cannot accept, Mr. Speaker, that the Government should necessarily deny a partial market solution to a shortage. However, the Government have two schemes for helping to reduce the shortage of mathematics teachers and we shall consider what more needs to be done in the light of the report.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWill my right hon. Friend do his best to encourage schools to let parents know that it is important that their children should be more successful at mathematics? At present there is a great gap in understanding about the importance of mathematics for future life.
§ Sir Keith JosephYes, Sir. However, my capacity to influence what schools tell parents, and their capacity to influence parents, is necessarily slightly diluted.