§ Lady Tweedsmuirasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet approved the reconstitution of the National Joint Council for the Salaries of Teachers in Scotland; and what is the nature of the provision made for arbitration in case of disagreement between the two sides.
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§ Mr. MaclayYes. I have today approved without change the reconstitution of the National Joint Council to deal with Salaries of Teachers in Scotland. The constitution provides that, should the two sides—authorities and teachers—be unable to reach agreement on a recommendation to be made to me, either a decision may be left to the Chairman if a majority of each side agrees to this procedure, or the matter may be referred to a tribunal of three arbiters to be appointed by the Lord President of the Court of Session. The arbiters' function is to mediate between the two sides of the Council and so to provide them with an agreed recommendation to be made to me, both sides normally agreeing in advance to accept the arbiters' findings as their joint recommendation. While I am required by Statute to have regard to any recommendation made by the Council, I am not bound to accept it.