§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the latest strike by teachers in the maintained sector.
§ Sir Keith JosephI understand that the National Union of Teachers has called on its members to refuse to provide cover for absent colleagues, undertake lunchtime supervision and school activities outside timetabled school hours, or handle school meals payments. I am greatly concerned that the union should have called for this action which is designed to disrupt the education service and I hope individual teachers will think very carefully about the implications of heeding this call.