HC Deb 04 December 1985 vol 88 c304 3.46 pm
Mr. Dennis Canavan (Falkirk, West)

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 failure of the Secretary of State for Scotland to set up an independent pay review for Scottish teachers and the resultant crisis in Scottish education which will mean the closure of virtually all Scottish schools tomorrow. It is now about 16 months since the Scottish teachers first put in a demand for an independent pay review, a legitimate demand which was backed by irrefutable evidence that the Scottish teachers would need an increase of about 40 per cent. to restore the place in the earnings table which they had following the major review of teachers' salaries by Houghton in 1974.

However, the Secretary of State's intransigent attitude has led to a prolonged dispute, a dispute which has gone on even longer than the recent miners' strike. Because of the Government's inaction, members of the Educational Insitute of Scotland, the largest Scottish teachers' union, have resorted to working to contract, which means that there is no curriculum development, no extra-curricular activities, non-co-operation with the examination board and other action.

There has also been selective strike action, which means that many pupils, including many from my constituency, have recently been put on a two-day school week rather than a five-day school week. Tomorrow the EIS is to be supported by other teachers' unions, which will mean that virtually all Scottish schools will be closed tomorrow, affecting almost 1 million school pupils in Scotland.

Therefore, I submit that the matter is important enough to deserve urgent consideration by the House. Practically every family in Scotland is affected by the deplorable failure of the Secretary of State for Scotland to ensure a fair deal for Scottish teachers, which in turn will help to safeguard the educational opportunities of young people in our schools.

The Secretary of State must bear responsibility for that situation, which is the gravest crisis in the history of Scottish education. In view of the inaction of the Secretary of State, it is up to us to apply parliamentary pressure on him. We owe it to the teachers, to the parents, and, above all, to the young people in our schools.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member has asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the failure of the Secretary of State for Scotland to set up an independent pay review for Scottish teachers and the resultant crisis in Scottish education which will mean the closure of virtually all Scottish schools tomorrow. I do not underestimate the importance of what the hon. Gentleman has said, but I do not consider that the matter he has raised is appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 10. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.