§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek to arrange a meeting of the Members of Parliament and local authority representatives of the London borough of Newham to discuss with him the problems confronting the borough so far as the educational services are concerned.
§ Mr. PrenticeI shall spend the day in Newham on 26th April visiting schools and holding discussions with local authority representatives, teachers and other groups concerned with education. I shall of course be glad to discuss the matters with my hon. Friend at any time.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek to obtain for the latest and most convenient stated date the number of children in the London borough of Newham who are failing to get 308W in Leicestershire in 1970 and at the latest available date;
(2) what was the pupil-teacher ratio in secondary schools in Leicestershire in 1970 and at the latest available date;
(3) what was the national pupil-teacher ratio in secondary schools in England in 1970 and at the latest available date;
(4) what was the national pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in England in 1970 and at the latest available date.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe information is as follows:
full-time education; to what extent this is due to a shortage of teachers, and teachers taking industrial action to improve their London allowance, the shortage of schools and the immigration of children into the borough; and if he will take steps designed to change the situation generally.
§ Mr. PrenticeI understand from the local education authority that the number of pupils missing regular schooling for the equivalent of up to a day during the week ended 22nd March amounted to about 900 on any one day. There are 63 teacher vacancies. The authority considers that the reduction in school hours is due in part to industrial action by teachers. There is no evidence that it is due either to a shortage of accommodation or to immigration. The Pay Board has been asked to present by midsummer the report of its review of London weighting generally. It has been asked by the Government to speed this up as much as possible.