§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has issued any guidance to local education authorities concerning the allowance of time off and use of clerical facilities by teachers in connection with any duties they perform as officers of a teachers' union or association; and what information he has about the practice of local education authorities in this respect, including the criteria used for deciding which unions or associations shall benefit and which shall not.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerMy right hon. Friend has issued no guidance to local1108W education authorities—LEAs. I have no information about the practice of LEAs, but I understand that the Council of Local Education Authorities and the recognised teachers' organisations represented on the Burnham Primary and Secondary, and Further Education Committees agreed, in April 1975 and February 1976 respectively, on the principles and practices to be recommended to LEAs. The detailed arrangements were to be agreed locally.