§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details showing the ratio of teacher per pupils in secondary schools in each of the six largest education authorities in Scotland.
§ Mr. RossThe figures for January, 1969, are as follows:
All teachers Qualified teachers Glasgow … 17.4:1 18.7:1 Lanarkshire … 17.8:1 21.2:1 Edinburgh … 16.7:1 17.3:1 Renfrewshire … 18.6:1 20.0:1 Fife … 14.8:1 15.5:1 Ayrshire … 15.8:1 17.2:1 The figures include the full-time equivalent of part-time teachers but exclude supply and relief teachers.
§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a breakdown of the figures showing the extent of the shortage of qualified teachers in secondary schools in Lanarkshire.
§ Mr. RossI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 2nd July, 1969, to the hon. Member for Perth and East
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Education Authority New Town Element for New Town included in building programme total School population of New Town (£000) Ayrshire … … Irvine … … 120 6,867 Dunbartonshire … … Cumbernauld … … 1,517 6,355 Fife … … Glenrothes … … Nil 5,980 Lanarkshire … … East Kilbride … … Nil* 13,216 Midlothian … … Livingston … … 215 664 West Lothian … … Livingston … … Nil 288 * Lanarkshire Education Authority were authorised to start two secondary school extensions in East Kilbride (total cost £806,000) in 1969–70 as a charge against their 1970–72 building programme. —[Vol. 790, cols. 129–30; Vol. 787, col. 279.] Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur), and my reply of 2nd December, 1969, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Wright).—[Vol. 786, c. 102–4; Vol. 792, c. 271.]
§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the danger of breakdown in secondary education in Lanarkshire due to the shortage of secondary teachers; and what plans he has to assist the recruitment of the necessary qualified teachers.
§ Mr. RossI am aware of the shortages of qualified teaching staff in secondary schools in Lanarkshire. The education authority wishes to discuss the staffing situation and I have asked my hon. Friend the Joint Under Secretary of State to meet its representatives.