§ 2.41 p.m.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many certificated teachers who were employed by education authorities in Scotland at the end of last school year had not registered with the General Teaching Council, and what is the position in the new school year.]
§ The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Hughes)My Lords, at June 24 the number of qualified teachers who had not registered was 2, 486. At October 14 the corresponding number was 444.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord to what extent the reason for that disparity is the number who have ceased to be on the teaching rolls of the local authorities? Also, can the noble Lord make it clear that the difference between these two numbers represents numbers that have registered since that time? I hope I have made that plain. Am I right in thinking that some 2, 000 have registered since the end of last term?
§ Lord HUGHESMy Lords, it is not possible for me to say whether any of this difference is accounted for by people who may have ceased to be teachers between June 24 and October 14. What I can say with certainty is that the great majority of the 2, 000 fall is due to teachers who have registered between June 24 and October 14.
§ Lord KILMANYMy Lords, in rising to ask a supplementary question, may I take the opportunity to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Hughes, on his promotion as Minister of State, which I am sure will be most warmly welcomed by every Scottish Member in your Lordships' House? Turning to the supplementary question, may I ask the noble Lord to bear in mind the urgent need for teachers, whether they be registered or otherwise?
§ Lord HUGHESMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his congratulations. As to his supplementary question, we do 1309 bear this in mind, and perhaps if I mentioned another figure it would help to bring this matter into perspective. The current total of registrations with the General Teaching Councils is 52, 977, although I must agree that in the existing situation we cannot afford to be without any teacher if it is reasonable that he can be employed.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, I should like very much to join my noble friend in congratulating the noble Lord, with whom I have personally had so many exchanges across this Floor, very warmly indeed upon his promotion. May I ask him about the figure of 444? Does it include certificated teachers who are not now in employment; and can he say how many of those there are who have not just retired but who have been dismissed because they have not registered?
§ Lord HUGHESMy Lords, no one has yet been dismissed, of course. Certain people have been given notice of dismissal, and the authorities concerned have, I think, at least in some cases, coupled it with a statement that if the teachers concerned register before the period of notice expires the dismissal will not in fact operate. I am sorry that I cannot answer the question about the extent to which the 444 include people in the categories to which the noble Lord referred.