Teachers' Pay (Hansard, 9 May 1980)

§ Mr. Marlow
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what mistakes have been made by the Clegg Commission in its assessment of comparability of teachers' pay; and what remedial action is to be taken.

§ Dr. Boyson
I shall be writing to my hon. Friend.

§ Mr. Marlow
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why teachers are paid similar rates of pay

Effective date of award Percentage increase per cent. Average amount awarded £ Number of teachers affected^* Total cost of the awards† £ million

Primary and Secondary teachers—

1 April 1978 … 9.9 452 455,000 243

1 April 1979‡ … 9.3 471 462,000 257

1 January 1980§ … 8.9 494 462,000 269

Further Education teachers—

1 April 1978 … 9.8 580 78,000 53

1 April 1979‡ … 9.3 611 80,000 57

1 January 1980 … 9.0 646 80,000 61

(approximately)

^* Full-time teachers and, for primary and secondary teachers only, the full-lime equivalent of part-time teachers.

† Represents the estimated cost over a full year and includes an estimate of the additional cost of the employers' superannuation and national insurance contributions.

‡ As part of this settlement it was agreed to refer the question of teachers' pay to the Standing Commission on pay comparability and, pending the commission's report, to make an additional payment " on account " of £6 per month to all teachers with effect from 1 April 1979. The payment " on account" ceased on 31 December 1979 and is being recovered from the 1 January 1980 award.

§ This represents the first stage of the award based on the findings of the Standing Commission on Pay Comparability. This award is being implemented in two equal stages, the second of which becomes due on 1 September 1980. (The percentage increase for further education teachers is approximate since some minor details remain outstanding.)

Both primary and secondary and further education teachers have submitted 256W for similar work when the cost of living and the market value of a teachers' output varies throughout the country.

§ Mr. Mark Carlisle
It is general practice in the public services for salary scales to be negotiated on a nation-wide basis. For teachers there are London area allowances and allowances for social priority schools, and employing authorities are given substantial flexibility and discretion in determining staffing levels and in the deployment of posts above the basic scale 1. It is doubtful whether the replacement of present arrangements by local negotiation would achieve economy in the aggregate of public expenditure and secure and maintain a professionally healthy and mobile teacher force.

§ Mr. Marlow
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will tabulate, in respect of teachers' pay since 1 January 1978: the effective date of any pay award or increment, the overall percentage of the award, the average amount awarded, the number of employees affected and the total cost of the award, including the present award under discussion.

§ Mr. Mark Carlisle
Pay awards to teachers in England and Wales since 1 January 1978, excluding increases in London allowance, have been as follows:
claims for increases from 1 April 1980 on which negotiations are still in progress.

Effective date of award	Percentage increase per cent.	Average amount awarded £	Number of teachers affected^*	Total cost of the awards† £ million
Primary and Secondary teachers—
1 April 1978	…	9.9	452	455,000	243
1 April 1979‡	…	9.3	471	462,000	257
1 January 1980§	…	8.9	494	462,000	269
Further Education teachers—
1 April 1978	…	9.8	580	78,000	53
1 April 1979‡	…	9.3	611	80,000	57
1 January 1980	…	9.0	646	80,000	61
(approximately)
^* Full-time teachers and, for primary and secondary teachers only, the full-lime equivalent of part-time teachers.
† Represents the estimated cost over a full year and includes an estimate of the additional cost of the employers' superannuation and national insurance contributions.
‡ As part of this settlement it was agreed to refer the question of teachers' pay to the Standing Commission on pay comparability and, pending the commission's report, to make an additional payment " on account " of £6 per month to all teachers with effect from 1 April 1979. The payment " on account" ceased on 31 December 1979 and is being recovered from the 1 January 1980 award.
§ This represents the first stage of the award based on the findings of the Standing Commission on Pay Comparability. This award is being implemented in two equal stages, the second of which becomes due on 1 September 1980. (The percentage increase for further education teachers is approximate since some minor details remain outstanding.)