HC Deb 20 July 1981 vol 9 c11W
Mr. Jessel

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide estimates of the total number of teachers employed by local authorities in England and Wales in 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980; if he will express such figures as percentages of all employed persons; if he will express the cost of their salaries and wages as percentages of gross national income.

Dr. Boyson

Information on teachers salaries and wages is not readily available for 1950 and is not yet available for 1980. Figures are given below for 1952, 1960, 1970 and 1979.

England and Wales Teachers and lecturers
Numbers employed by local authorities* Percentage of all employed persons* Salaries and wages in nearest financial year as percentage of estimated gross domestic product
(000s) per cent. per cent.
1952 286 1.6 1.1
1960 373 1.9 1.4
1970 554 2.8 1.9
1979 693 3.4 2.3
* Counting part-timers in full

Figures may not be completely comparable for all years and contain elements of estimation. They should therefore be treated mainly as indicators of trends.