§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received the report on teacher shortage completed by the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangThe report was requested by the Scottish Education Department as a contribution to the work of the planning group on teacher supply set up by my right hon. and learned Friend earlier this year. The report confirms that at present in Scotland there are no general difficulties in recruiting teaching staff for primary or secondary schools. It indicates, however, that some authorities, notably Strathclyde, expect difficulties in obtaining sufficient absence cover over the winter months. The information in the paper was taken into account in my recent proposals for target intakes to courses of teacher training in colleges of education for session 1990–91.
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§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance the Department has given to education authorities in respect of a pay increase for teachers for 1990.
§ Mr. LangIt is the responsibility of the Scottish joint negotiating committee for teaching staff in school education (SJNC) to determine the level of pay increases for teachers in Scotland. In their negotiations on the 1990 settlement, employer representatives will require to take account of the overall level of financial resources available to authorities including central Government grants.