§ Major M. WOODasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the salaries of headmasters and principal teachers in higher grade schools in Aberdeenshire have been fixed by the education authority on a lower scale than those offered by other county authorities to teachers occupying positions of similar importance; whether a reasoned representation against the scale was received by the Education Department from the Aberdeenshire County Executive, and what action was taken with reference thereto; and whether the Department has approved the scale, and, if so, on what grounds?
§ Mr. MUNROI am informed that, while the remuneration of the head teachers and principal teachers of the post primary schools under the management of the Aberdeenshire Education Authority is on a lower scale than that allowed by some county education authorities, it does not compare unfavourably with that offered by many other education authorities in Scotland. Representations on the subject from the Execu- 2177W tive of the Aberdeenshire Branch of the Educational Institute of Scotland were received by the Scottish Education Department, and were sent to the Aberdeenshire Education Authority for their observations. On receipt of these observations the matter received the full consideration of the Department in connection with the scheme of salaries submitted by this education authority. As the scheme made provision for such payments of teachers' salaries as are obligatory in terms of the Minimum National Scales, it was accordingly approved by the Department.