§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the award under Houghton Stage 2; and why Scottish further education lecturers have not had the award implemented, as have their English counterparts, in view of the salary equalisation set out in the Houghton Report.
§ Mr. William RossI have been asked to reply.
The changes in the salary and grading structure recommended by the Houghton Committee were more radical and complex for teachers in further education colleges in Scotland than for their counterparts in England and Wales. For this reason discussions in the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee have been protracted.
The salaries award recommended by the Houghton Committee to Scottish further education teachers below Head of Department level has already been implemented. What remain under "Houghton Stage 2" are the final salary adjustments for grades at and above head of department level and the introduction of the new grading structure. I have been asked to meet representatives of the Salaries Committee to discuss to what extent implementation of "Houghton Stage 2" is affected by the Government's counter-inflation policy as outlined in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation". I hope to arrange a meeting soon.