Primary Schools (Hansard, 27 March 1990)

§ 11. Mr. Knox
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent per pupil in primary schools in Staffordshire in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure in 1978–79, at constant prices.

§ Mr. Alan Howarth
The most recent data available relate to 1987–88. In that year Staffordshire spent £980 per primary pupil, compared with £370 per pupil in cash terms in 1978–79. At 1987–88 prices, those figures are £980 and £755 respectively—a real-terms increase of nearly 30 per cent.

§ 68. Mr. Geraint Howells
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to guarantee improved non-contact time for primary school teachers.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
The organisation of the school day and the duties to be undertaken by individual teachers in their 1,265 hours of directed time are matters for head teachers. The Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions has drawn attention in its third report to the scope that exists for LEAs and governing bodies to develop policies to increase teachers' non-contact time.

§ 40. Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to ensure that there are sufficient teachers available for primary schools in London in September 1990.

§ Mr. Alan Howarth
We are spending £159,000 in support of a London teacher recruitment campaign, which targets returners and mature new entrants, particularly women, who live locally. This campaign is also being supported by ILEA and the London boroughs.
My right hon. Friend recently gave consent to the Inner London education authority proposal to sell a number of properties and sites to the London teachers housing association. These will be used to provide some 250 housing units for teachers in inner London. I expect the scheme to help the inner London boroughs in their efforts to attract and retain teachers.
My right hon. Friend has also accepted in full the recommendations of the Interim Advisory Committee on Teachers' Pay and Conditions. These included an 8–8 per cent. increase in London weighting and a further discretionary supplement of £750 for inner London.
In addition, from April 1990 £4 million education support grant will be available over two years to support 45 LEAs, over half of them in London, to develop flexible and innovative recruitment packages aimed at returners.