HL Deb 20 May 1974 vol 351 cc1237-40

2.45 p.m.

LORD DAVIES OF LEEK

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the dire shortage of qualified teachers of deaf children, and whether they propose to take steps to increase the facilities for training such teachers.

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, there has recently been some improvement but the shortage of specially qualified teachers of deaf children is still causing concern. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has initiated discussion aimed at increasing training provision.

LORD DAVIES OF LEEK

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that answer may I ask him whether he is aware that we as a nation, whatever Government are in power, appear to neglect the handicaps of the deaf? May I further ask whether he is aware that, due to the ruthless and clamorous cacophony in which our children are now growing up, deafness is now increasing among infants? Will he therefore see that audiometric machinery is available in the schools for teachers of the deaf, and that encouragement, in the form of better pay scales and places in the universities, is made available for such teachers?

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is very well aware of the difficulties. He has initiated discussions to examine the possibility of providing additional training courses in regions which are not at present conveniently served by the existing centres at Manchester, London, Oxford, and recently Newcastle. As a result of that initiative the Leeds and Bristol area training organisations have been invited to consider whether suitable courses might be mounted at colleges of education in their respective areas. In addition, the University of Birmingham is considering a proposal for a course at its School of Education. I will ensure that the attention of my right honourable friend is drawn to the interest of my noble friend.

LORD MAYBRAY-KING

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that sympathetic reply, will he ask his right honourable friend also to take cognisance of the special problems of the deaf and of blind children, on which representations were made to the previous Government by an association called the Deaf and Blind and Rubella Children's Association? I hope to send to the Government copies of the Association's written representations.

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, I think that what the noble Lord has said is a little wide of the Question, but certainly I will draw the attention of my right honourable friend to his remarks.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, as one who is fairly deaf himself may I declare an interest? Arising out of the Minister's reply, can he divulge the rate of increase of trained teachers over the last few years in relation to the current total?

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, I am pleased to say that whereas the number of those qualified in 1968 was 102 it had risen in 1973 to 139. Currently I understand about 149 people are taking the course.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, can my noble friend say what is the salary of the teacher of a deaf child compared with that of the teacher of a normal child? If not, will he write to me?

LORD GARNSWORTHY

I thought that I might get this one, my Lords, and I made special enquiries.

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS

Hear, hear!

LORD GARNSWORTHY

I have to say that they receive an additional payment of £195 per annum. After they have qualified I understand that they are entitled to draw an additional £78 per annum.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

I thank my noble friend very much.

LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICK

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware—and I ask this question with considerable personal experience of the problem—that the present situation regarding the education of deaf children in the United Kingdom to-day is simply appalling? Will Her Majesty's Government give me an assurance that they will make every possible effort to improve matters? I would have asked this question of any Government who were in power.

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, my right honourable friend is acutely aware of this problem. I have tried to indicate his very considerable concern and his active interest in the sense that he is endeavouring to improve the position with regard to places available for training. I think your Lordships would like to know that the number of teachers teaching deaf children rose from 850 in 1972 to 941 in 1973. If one takes into account the present interest of my right honourable friend, I hope the House will understand if I say I am optimistic that the present position will continue to improve.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, can the noble Lord give us some indication of the scale of this problem? What is the total shortage at this time in the number of teachers required?

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, that, again, was a question which I thought I might be asked, but the fact is that the situation changes from week to week, almost from day to day, depending upon the ability of local education authorities to recruit people to fill vacancies. It would be very difficult to give an accurate figure for the position as it exists to-day.