§ 14. Mr. HaynesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his most recent estimate of teacher vacancies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FallonMy right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State published on 5 October the results of the Department's survey of teacher vacancies conducted at the beginning of September, a copy of which is in the Library. On 3 September, local education authorities reported just over 1,400 unfilled posts—very many fewer than the vacancies reported in January. Those results are encouraging and show that our measures to improve teacher recruitment and retention are being effective.
§ Mr. HaynesThat is a terrible record for this Government. I want to know whether every child will have a fully trained teacher. Come on, let us have an answer.
§ Mr. Fallonrose——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. There are four minutes to go before Prime Minister's Question Time.
§ Mr. FallonThe hon. Gentleman's education authority of Nottinghamshire had 138 vacancies last January. In September, it had only five.
§ Mr. Harry GreenwayWill my hon. Friend reject the constant attacks of the Labour party and its allies on the teaching profession and accept that teachers in post are as good as they have ever been and that they give wonderful service to our children, despite the Labour party's attacks?
§ Mr. FallonIt is important that the Labour party should cease to denigrate the profession. The vacancy rate is 1.8 per cent., which is one of the lowest of any profession.