Teachers (Industrial Action) (Hansard, 21 May 1984)

§ Mr. Merlyn Rees (Morley and Leeds, South)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the indifference of Her Majesty's Government to the effect of the teachers' strike. The importance of this matter is specific to a number of schools in my constituency. Over the weekend I was made aware of the problem as it affects three high schools which take children up to the age of 18 years. The selective and partial strikes, of which notice is given only 24 hours beforehand, have a cumulative effect. The greatest effect arises out of the cessation of teachers' voluntary lunchtime supervision of meals. As a result of that lack of supervision the pupils go home, and I am advised that attendance in the afternoons is 50 per cent. or less. One headmaster has also advised me that he expects the cumulative effect of the industrial action to be even greater after the spring bank holiday.

The effect of the strike on one middle school on a large housing estate in south Leeds is catastrophic. Over the years, an excellent headmaster and staff have reduced the amount of truancy and done other good work. The strike will set back progress by a number of years.

I received my information last Friday and Saturday. I therefore could not have brought it to the House on Thursday or Wednesday to enable the business to be altered. I am advised that in Bruntcliffe and Morley high schools, and also Rodillian school, formerly Rothwell, it is planned that from lunchtime today about 10 members of staff in each school will be called upon to strike during each session. The cumulative effect of that action on the schools will he that at least 1,100 pupils will have to be sent home for part of the day. It is understood that the action could continue all week. One of the schools has been advised by a newspaper, and perhaps by letter, that all the children from the schools will be sent home as teachers refuse to cover for absent colleagues.

684 It is vital that this matter should be discussed. We cannot wait for the usual channels to operate on Wednesday. This matter is important to my constituents today, but there has been no chance for us to discuss it or for the Secretary of State to tell us what the Government propose to do.

The problem is not only short-term. One headmaster told me that nobody was responding to advertisements for jobs in the school—in particular to advertisements for mathematics teachers.

Why do we have to wait? This is not a political matter, as at the last general election 70 per cent. of teachers voted for parties other than the Labour party. I am told that we face such problems in Morley because the Secretary of State for Education and Science represents a Leeds constituency. It does not matter to me whether that is right or wrong, but to wait until the end of the week would be wrong. My duty is to my constituents in Morley and Leeds, South. There will be real problems this week, and I do not want to watch "Look North" or the "Calendar" programme, or wait until after 10.30 pm tonight, to see it all discussed on television. I want the matter debated on the Floor of the House. That is where it should be debated, and that is why I am making an application under Standing Order No. 10.