§ Mr. JOHNasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give statistics showing the number of unemployed teachers in Wales; and whether he will consider setting up a national register in order that the full extent of unemployment in the teaching profession may be obtained?
Mr. STANLEYI regret that the Board have no means of ascertaining how many teachers in Wales are at any particular time definitely seeking employment, and I am therefore unable to supply the statistics for which the hon. Member asks. I doubt whether it would be possible to compile a national register of teachers of sufficient accuracy to626W secure the purpose which the hon. Member has in mind. The fact that at any moment there will always be persons qualified as teachers who are employed, or seeking employment, in other capacities, or serving as teachers in schools outside the Board's jurisdiction, indicates the difficulties in the way of ascertaining the number of teachers definitely seeking employment in grant-aided schools.